Mrs. Craig is in her final year of her graduate program with 3 semesters left in her licensing program. She has worked as an English teacher for the past 4 years at a Milwaukee charter school where she has been able to develop her critical thinking skills and expanded upon her diverse youth reading set. Her passion for youth to conduct self exploration and self discovery through literature is a driving force behind her Why! Mrs. Craig is a lifelong learner and always open to adapt and learn from the unique learning styles of her students.
She’s a big sci-fi fan and prides herself on knowing too many facts about films like Star Wars, the Maze Runner and Black Box. She is excited to assist young readers into finding what genres best fit them and always making sure to see themselves in their readings/writings.
Hi Cheresse,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this post and your collage, it feels like a visual extension of your teaching philosophy. Your identity as a lifelong learner comes through clearly, especially in how you frame literature as a tool for self exploration and self discovery rather than just a set of skills to master. With four years of classroom experience already behind you, it’s clear that your “why” is grounded in real relationships with students and an understanding of what diverse youth actually need from reading spaces.
Your love for sci-fi stood out to me too. Genres like Star Wars, The Maze Runner, and Black Box are such strong entry points for students who may feel disconnected from traditional classroom texts. I appreciate how intentional you are about helping students not only find genres that fit them, but also see themselves reflected in what they read and write. That balance of engagement and representation is so powerful.
The collage itself really captures the breadth of your reading life, blending imagination, critical thought, and cultural relevance. It mirrors the kind of classroom you seem to build, one where curiosity is encouraged and identities are affirmed. Your students are clearly benefiting from your passion, and it shows in both your words and visuals.
I love your passion! You have a lot of care and love for teaching and your students, and it bleeds into your work in the best way! Being a learner is the only way to be the best teacher, it made me happy to see you mention that! It's super super important to never stop learning, to keep finding new ways to innovate and to revolutionize not only your teaching, but the world around you!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love the Maze Runner, I think I'm due for a rewatch!
Hey Cheresse!
ReplyDeleteI would love to swap Sci Fi titles with you sometime. This is my absolute FAVORITE genre but I often have trouble finding titles I am interested in because they so frequently favor male dominated themes and include very uninspiring or unfavorable stereotypes of women. I am also a massive Star Wars fan. I attribute a lot of my current interests, hobbies, and even my career to those films. I have been working a lot with 3D printing and robotics and am designing a custom R2D2.
Hi Cheresse! Thank you for sharing your profile; it is clear how your passion for self-discovery in literature blends between your own reading interests and what drives you as a teacher. It was amazing reading this student-facing piece to get a sense of who Mrs. Craig is in the classroom and how our many choices, including what we read, continuing education, and whose voices influence us, shape how we show up for our students in the classroom.
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