About Me
My name is Sarah Fullerton and I am a proud Arizona native! I graduated from Chandler High School in 2006 and went on to receive my Bachelor of Arts in English literature at Arizona State University. I graduated summa cum laude in 2010 and taught seventh and eighth grade language arts at a charter school in Mesa. After my first week of teaching--as scary as it was--I decided I wanted to pursue my M.Ed in secondary education. Long story short, I graduated on December 18, 2013 and soon will become a highly qualified teacher certified in English and Language Arts. I couldn't be more excited!
I have always been an avid reader and writer (check out my Goodreads profile!). I love words: They have power and beauty and mystery. For this reason, I collect quotes. It has always been a hobby of mine, one I did not give much thought to until I took a literature survey course with Dr. Steve Farmer. At the beginning of the first class he handed us a packet entitled, "Our Responsibility to Passion." It was his collection of quotes that he has amassed over the years that he wanted to share with us. I was moved. And so, ever since then, I have been archiving my favorite quotes to someday share with my students (and preferably in a "greener" way).
I have always been an avid reader and writer (check out my Goodreads profile!). I love words: They have power and beauty and mystery. For this reason, I collect quotes. It has always been a hobby of mine, one I did not give much thought to until I took a literature survey course with Dr. Steve Farmer. At the beginning of the first class he handed us a packet entitled, "Our Responsibility to Passion." It was his collection of quotes that he has amassed over the years that he wanted to share with us. I was moved. And so, ever since then, I have been archiving my favorite quotes to someday share with my students (and preferably in a "greener" way).
My Teaching Philosophy
When the concept of public education was first introduced in America after the Revolutionary War, its intent was to teach children what it meant to be "American." On some level I believe this idea still has relevance today in that we are shaping our students to be intelligent, functioning members of society. But more than that, I believe teachers should guide their students on their way to becoming compassionate and creative problem-solvers that have a love for learning which will guide them through meeting the demands of modern life which we--as teachers now--cannot even predict.
As specifically a Language Arts teacher, my goal is for students to walk away with a sense that the classic pieces of literature we have them read are not just dusty, old, and boring books. I want students to be able to "de-dustify" these works and make them personal. I hope that to varying degrees, students can see a part of themselves in their reading. Although some novels and poems may be harder than others, writing is a human product and therefore reflects human concerns. I will never ask my students to like every piece we read, but instead to respect its place in the canon.
I feel to best accomplish this goal, especially in a multicultural setting, a teacher should always be able to provide relevance. Students always want to know why they must complete a task, and I want to always be able to answer them with more than just the usual "because the syllabus says so." As a teacher I always want to provide some connection between our readings to current events because this is a very clear (and sometimes powerful) way to get students involved in the themes we explore in literature. I believe all students need strategies to help them read for meaning, and I would not be doing my students justice if I did not provide them these tools for success. All students can learn, and it is my job to be the "super sleuth" to figure out the right method for each.
Above all, I'm becoming a teacher because I know from experience that teachers touch lives. I want to instill in my students the same thing my teachers instilled in me: you can do whatever you set your mind to do, but you better love what you are doing.
As specifically a Language Arts teacher, my goal is for students to walk away with a sense that the classic pieces of literature we have them read are not just dusty, old, and boring books. I want students to be able to "de-dustify" these works and make them personal. I hope that to varying degrees, students can see a part of themselves in their reading. Although some novels and poems may be harder than others, writing is a human product and therefore reflects human concerns. I will never ask my students to like every piece we read, but instead to respect its place in the canon.
I feel to best accomplish this goal, especially in a multicultural setting, a teacher should always be able to provide relevance. Students always want to know why they must complete a task, and I want to always be able to answer them with more than just the usual "because the syllabus says so." As a teacher I always want to provide some connection between our readings to current events because this is a very clear (and sometimes powerful) way to get students involved in the themes we explore in literature. I believe all students need strategies to help them read for meaning, and I would not be doing my students justice if I did not provide them these tools for success. All students can learn, and it is my job to be the "super sleuth" to figure out the right method for each.
Above all, I'm becoming a teacher because I know from experience that teachers touch lives. I want to instill in my students the same thing my teachers instilled in me: you can do whatever you set your mind to do, but you better love what you are doing.
Loki Cam
By popular request, here are snapshots of my dog, Loki. He's still just a puppy (born March 24, 2013) and he is aptly named--he is incredibly mischievous! But also sweet and adorable.