My teaching philosophy stresses the importance of revision — of actively pursuing new ways of examining, empathizing, and expressing. It is rooted in my belief that the activities of reading, writing, listening, and speaking enable us to think critically about the world, which allows us to construct meaning and learn critical lessons from our experiences. Additionally, successful compositions and conversations allow for effective communication and connection with others and develops productive relationships of respect, understanding, and collaboration. My courses utilize traditional and modern rhetorical strategies as heuristic and community-building tools to demonstrate that innovative thought and pragmatic solutions are best derived from understanding and synthesizing diverse viewpoints, in addition to respectful academic discussion that promotes reciprocity and mutual enrichment. 

By outwardly advancing revision in my English classes, students learn the value of questioning and the importance of actively pursuing new ways of seeing, sympathizing, and saying, which results in “cognitive gain” (Daniel Cohen). This develops a growth mindset that invites challenges to personal views as opportunities to grow and construct creative ideas and compositions. Revision is fundamental to my role as an instructor, not only in reworking lessons and assignments, but in valuing what students are bringing with them into the classroom. It is important for me to constantly re-see my students as individuals with complex backgrounds and needs, and to find new ways of making them feel valued. I care deeply about all of my students and believe that through language and literacy we can mold a more engaged citizenry and a stronger democracy. I strive to stay on the forefront of best practices, and I am continually looking to implement new pedagogies to best serve my students. I consistently promote revision in all things I do to show that it is not just a practice, but a way of being. My teaching philosophy, at its core, champions the importance of being in revision, where there is no final product, only process.