Child & Youth Instructional Experience
Volumes and Verse Camp Instructor
St George’s Summer School (Junior), Vancouver BC
July 2010
- Designed “flexible” lesson plan arc for active group of 7-10 year old students; accommodated various student needs i.e. kinesthetic and reflective learners, various reading levels, ESL students
- Facilitated student learning through fun crafts and activities that enriched and brought texts to life
- Initiated and organized a poetry recital for parents; selected pieces; daily practice sessions
- Conferenced with and assisted the St. George’s team of administrators
New Shoots Program Teacher
University Hill Secondary School, Vancouver, BC
Jan.-Mar. 2010
- Conceptualized and instructed 10 creative writing lesson plans for students in grade 7/8 and 11/12
- Mentored students 1-on-1; edited their work; taught lessons on public reading skills
Summer Reading Program Leader
Southeast Regional Library, Estevan, SK
May-Jun. 2004
- Created program outline and individual lessons, ordered materials, coordinated advertising
- Read to young children; facilitated arts and crafts; toured the students around the library
- Communicated with parents about children’s individual needs (dietary, behavioral)
Regina Dolphins Junior Swim Coach, Regina, SK
2003-2005
- Taught practices twice a week for young athletes ages 6-13
- Judged swim competitions; attended coaching seminars
Lifeguard and Swimming Instructor,
Estevan Leisure Centre, Estevan, SK
1998-2002
- Taught swimming lessons to elementary and secondary schools for physical education classes
- Instructed water rehabilitation programs for special needs children and students with water phobias
- Shift supervisor: scheduled staff, coordinated guard rotation, oversaw pool cleaning & emergency situations
Post-Secondary Instructional Experience
Teacher’s Assistant,
Creative Writing 202 (two classes), UBC
Sept. 2010-Present
- Design and deliver guest lectures to 180 undergraduate students
- Grade exams; evaluate papers; counsel students during regular office hours
Teacher’s Assistant for English 100
Campion College, University of Regina, SK
Sept.- Dec., 2007
- Planned and facilitated essay writing skills workshops; prepared and presented two lectures
- Held regular office hours; evaluated student work; reported to professor on student progress
Practicum
St. Jerome Elementary School, Regina, SK
Jan.-Mar. 2003
- 30-hour practicum as grade 5/6 split teacher’s assistant; supervised students while teacher was away from classroom; assisted with classroom routines; discussed students’ improvement/needs with supervising teacher
- Instructed a science mini-lesson: gave an engaging, age-appropriate demonstration
- Facilitated student learning 1-on-1 and in small groups i.e. rephrased concepts and questions until students understood the idea/assignment, helped students’ stay on track and follow instructions
- Class components for Intro to Education Principles and Practices (University of Regina): reflected on experience and wrote in professor-evaluated teaching journal; researched grade 5/6 curriculum; class discussion on pedagogy and practice; wrote essay on science education
Education Administration Experience
New Shoots Program Coordinator
Creative Writing Department, UBC
May 2010-Present
- Plan and manage program calendar; hire candidates; coordinate apprenticeship placements
- Liaise with Vancouver School Board secondary school teachers and programmers
- Schedule and organize program events: e.g. wind-up celebration, launch of program’s anthology
- Mentor apprentice teachers: e.g. accompany less experienced teachers to class—provide constructive criticism and teaching resources
Education
Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, UBC
Sept. 2009-Present
- Maintain an A+ average as full-time graduate student
- Three concentrations of study: fiction, poetry, non-fiction; developing a thesis in poetry
J’Explore French Immersion Program, QC
Spring 2010 & Summer 2006
- 5-week French immersion and French history & culture scholarship program; completed intermediate French equivalency; two-time participant at Université du Quebec à Chicoutimi & Université Laval
Bachelor of Arts Honours, in English,
University of Regina, SK
2002 – 2008
- First creative writing honours thesis approved by the department of English; final grade, 90%
- Maintained A average in last two years of study
Professional Development
Instructional Skills Symposium
Creative Writing Department (host), UBC
Winter Semester 2010
- Personally organized three, 2-3 hour seminars on creative writing instruction and lesson planning
- Course components: Planned lessons and designed rubrics for evaluating fine arts projects; practiced positive and constructive feedback skills; reflected on and shared instructional experiences with fellow participants
Teaching Creative Writing 522 course
Creative Writing Department, UBC
Winter Semester 2010
- Community Service Learning course; 20-hour practicum placement
- Course components: daily writing exercises; stimulating class discussion on practicum placement experiences; course readings on practice and pedagogy; teaching reflection journal
Instructional Skills Workshop Certificate
Centre for Teaching Learning & Technology, UBC
July 2010
- 24 hour, three-day seminar on instructional skills improvement
- Course components: reviewed learning styles; practiced writing learning objectives; developed mock rubrics; discussed how to facilitate group work; analyzed elements of interactive lectures
- Delivered three peer and instructor evaluated mini lessons; identified three strengths and three areas to better develop presentational skill set
English Librarian Studies course: Young Adult Literature 326
University of Regina, SK
Fall 2004
- Course components: Analyzed and reviewed ten YA novels and books; discussed age-appropriate place in curriculum for books; class debated regulations on literature censorship
- Received training on how to aid English Teachers in lesson planning
Awards & Scholarship
- Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (UBC, 2010)
- Graduate Entrance Scholarship to UBC Creative Writing Master’s Program (2009)
- W.O. Mitchell Bursary (Sk. Writer’s Guild, 2008)
- Humanities Research Institute Student Essay Prize (University of Regina, 2008)
- Short Grain for Grain magazine’s Short Grain contest (prose poem category, 2007)
Volunteerism
Writer in Residence Selection Committee
Green College, UBC
February 2011
- Reviewed and reported on 15 applications
- Maintained selection committee’s goal to find a suitable playwrite
Actress in Vagina Monologues
University of Regina, SK
February 2007
- Auditioned for and performed two major roles; organized and hosted wind-up event
- Proceeds went to Regina women’s shelter – over $1300
Fundraising director, Engineers Without Borders (EWB)
University of Regina, SK
February 2006
- funds sponsored a member to install fresh water pumps in rural Uganda
References available upon request.
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