Personal Information
My real name is Katherine, but I prefer to be called Katie.  I am from Chesterland, Ohio. I would like to teach at either the high school or collegiate level. I would love to teach English, specifically literature. Ever since a young age, I have had a passion for reading and writing. I love reading novels and considering the rhetoric strategies of the author. A second subject I would possibly like to teach is speech/communications. In terms of my interests, I really enjoy listening to blues and rock music. I also play the guitar. A unique fact about me is that I am only 4 ft. 10 in. tall, which technically makes me a legal midget.

This is my favorite guitar.  

Learning Style and More
In order to take intellectual and creative risks in the classroom, I need to get to know my peers better. The better I know my peers, the more comfortable I feel sharing ideas. I think these blogs and the ability to explore other students' blogs is a great way to meet my need.

I perceive myself as a very motivated and hardworking student. I always come prepared to class and complete all reading assignments, even if I will not be tested on the material.
I work to contribute to class discussions and will often volunteer an answer at times when others are unwilling. I almost always take notes over readings, even if it is not required.  I learn best from reading the material (visual learning) and from actively doings things (tactile learning).  I have also noticed that I learn best in classes that do not follow the same exact routine every day and classes that are discussion based. If I do not understand something, the first thing I do is try to look at it from a different angle or use a different method to understand it. A weakness I have as a student is that I often over-study or focus on minor details.

Education Past and Present
A formative memory from my experience as a student was when one of my teachers went out of his way to help me succeed. I had been struggling with severe test anxiety in his class. He pulled me aside one day after class and talked to me about different strategies I could use to combat my anxiety. His strategies and some follow up discussions helped me to get over my fear. He made a huge positive impact on my life. This experience really is what pushed me toward the field of education. I wanted to be able to help students just as my teacher had helped me.

A significant issue facing the field of education right now is job outlook. I have heard from many people I know that they are struggling to find a job in education. This fact frightens me and tends to sway me away from the field. A second significant issue is the general moral of the people in the field. Many teachers seem to be unhappy in their profession and unhappy with the state education is in. My father has been teacher for many years and he strongly encouraged me to stay away from pursuing education. He said that he and other teachers from other school districts are facing harder and unfair state standards and frozen or decreasing pay.

About Dr. Shutkin
What factors caused you to decide to pursue a career in education?

Did you ever have another profession besides being a teacher?