For me, reading has always been a passageway to another world—a never-ending journey. When I was a kid, I loved fantasy literature. I still vividly remember sitting in my father’s huge hall closet reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, secretly hoping that I, too, would find a portal to another world.
As I started to mature, my reading interests broadened, but I still craved that adventure element. During Middle School, I began reading historical fiction and memoirs. Reading fascinating accounts of Nelson Mandela, King Tut and Genghis Khan brought history to life in a way that I had never experienced. I began to think of my social studies class as a way to gather background information for my personal reading. I always wanted to know more. Just simply understanding that that the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids was not enough. I wanted to know who built them, why they were built and how they moved those massive stones. Although I was blissfully unaware, these formative years are what framed the person that I am today.
Since I began my professional career, I often catch myself intertwining these same elements into my teaching. Whether I am telling the students about the Great Wall of China or the beginnings of Islam, I present the information as if I were telling a story. Rather than just focus on memorizing dates and events, I try to interconnect everything I teach as if it were part of a large work of literature. My ultimate goal is to instill in my kids the same passion that I have for the written word. I hope that they can also find their path in life through reading.
On a more personal note, I have been teaching seventh grade for three years, and I absolutely love it. I am engaged to a wonderful (and very patient) man who also teaches in the chaotic jungle that is Middle School.
I look forward to learning from all of you.
Heather Coe