I've taught English and communication for over 20 years, mostly at community colleges.

The degrees are for teaching English with a minor in Psychology, and I've taught writing at community college for many years. This includes hundreds of high school students, about 100 a year. This includes online, face to face, and in high school classrooms. Community college students are diverse with many goals, so meeting people where they're at and helping them learn and grow has been a big part of what I do. Practical, useful skills matter the most. People follow many different paths, and they need the “soft skills” in whatever careers they pursue and in many life roles.

My students appreciate that they:

have voices

are part of a respectful, effective class

get clear feedback

have engaged thoughtfully with topics

have listened and considered other people's ideas

Most of the courses I've taught were equal parts writing and life skills.

And then there are the puzzles and games. We can learn a lot playing well-designed games. George Bernard Shaw said “We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.” Classes aren't super solemn. I learn a lot from my students, and I'm not afraid to say “I don't know”.

I also keep learning. Oil painting provides quiet recreation. (I'm learning how to make my own floating frames!) Ballroom and Latin dance helps me socialize and exercise. So much fun! Both of these remind me how challenging learning can be. I dance with wonderful people, most with years of practice..sometimes I'm the only one who doesn't know, or I get it wrong. But I learn some, I have fun participating, and mostly, people don't need us to be perfect. They just want to dance.

Learning is participatory, sometimes challenging, useful, and fun. Let's do this.