American Horror: The Tell-Tale Heart Discussion

I teach classes on literacy, literature, and creative writing. I love words and language in its many forms and love to share my knowledge and interests in storytelling. I also teach classes on twentieth-century history, particularly intellectual and literary history, in the first half of the twentieth century. My literary loves include James Joyce, Virginia Woolfe, and William Faulkner, and I've adored the mysterious beauty of stream-of-consciousness since I was a high school student. I am interested in exploring the art of short fiction both in writing workshops where learners can share and develop their creativity and as a medium to dissect and understand critically. 

I am a graduate of UC Davis, where I earned a degree in English Literature with a double emphasis in creative writing and literary criticism. I graduated with Highest Honors from the English department and a minor from the history department. At university, I volunteered at a variety of schools in Special Education classrooms. I was a writing ambassador in a multitude of Davis schools where I taught literacy and language arts to students with mild to moderate exceptionalities. I interned in a High School English class where I taught students Catcher in the Rye and helped them write an essay on the American Novel. Further, I explained Shakespeare with video games through the university's Play The Knave video game program. I've taught digital literacy and Elizabethan literature through this program in various High School settings. Since graduating, I've received a substitute teaching credential and have worked as both a substitute teacher and a substitute instructional aide across multiple classroom environments. 

I believe that empathy and connection are crucial to writing beautifully and growing as a thinker. I think that a teacher works magic when they learn to understand and adapt to their students. I work hard to listen to my learners' concerns and structure the class to their needs. I believe in the power of empathy and understanding as a gateway for deep, critical thought. 

When I'm not reading, you can likely find me wandering through the mountains with a large book in my hands. I am an eagle scout and have fostered a deep love for long walks where I can listen to the shuffling of the leaves while I work on my next short story.