teacher
writer
enthusiast
adventurer
advocate
blogger
I am a learner, writer, reader, teacher, and person. It is important that my students, and everyone I meet, sees all of my identities. If I were not one of these things, I would not be me.
As a teacher, I strive to incorporate principals of differentiated and personalized instruction, appreciative inquiry, and constructivism. I believe that my role as an educator is to help students use the subject of English to discover who they are and how they want to connect with the world. Within my classroom, every voice has power, risks are encouraged, and meaning is made together. One of the beautiful parts of English is that there is no one correct answer, and I hope my students come away with an appreciation for this grey area.
As a learner, I graduated from the Schreyer Honors College at the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary English Education with a focus in Language & Literature and in Media Literacies. During my time in school, I composed a thesis investigating the effects of being a writer on teaching writing with specific attention to the relationship between writing and emotional distress.
teacher
& learner
When I get interested in something, everybody knows it.
Here are some of the things you may catch me enthusing about:
enthusiast
Pancakes are by far, my favorite food. Whole-wheat blueberry-walnut are the best kind, but pumpkin cornmeal are a close second.
I am a proud member of Hufflepuff house, owner of a sonic screwdriver, and one-time visitor of Hobbiton.
Additionally, I am a huge fan of comic book movies. While I prefer Marvel to DC heroes, I have never met a Batman film I didn't like.
Although the last official dance class I took was in sixth grade, dancing is a part of my nature.
I coordinate dances for lipsync battles between friends and I have even taught line dances to middle school students in New Zealand.
The daughter of a music teacher, I grew up immersed in music, and I frequently incorporate it into my classroom. Students have even dubbed me DJ Norton Hears a Beat.
"Cherry Wine" by Hozier and "Fell it Still" by Portugal. The Man. are currently my favorite songs.
Being active is an essential part of my life. I play softball and volleyball, and I also enjoy pick up games of Ultimate Frisbee.
Additionally, I practice yoga, and I even find room for some of its exercises (deep breathing, good posture) within my classroom.
More than laying in the sand or swimming in the ocean, I love the walking around in the environment of the beach.
My favorite beach is Panama City Beach in Florida.
The theater holds a special place in my heart, having worked both on stage and behind the scenes. I have been an actor and writer as well as a member of stage crew, costume crew, and make up crew. My favorite show is Into the Woods
There is little else that is more comforting than a cup of black coffee or cappuccino.
While I've become numb to the caffeine, I still enjoy a cup a day to warm my soul.
I started reading at the age of two and half, and while my journey as a reader has had it's ups and downs since then, I have always enjoyed getting lost in a fantastic book.
Harry Potter is the first book series that fully transported me to another place and taught me about myself and the world. I am particularly fond of The Half-Blood Prince (Book 6), although The Goblet of Fire (Book 4) is a close second.
My absolute favorite book (at least, currently) is On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. This book restored my faith in reading and my desire to be a writer, things I had lost after reading a particularly bad book.
Generally, I prefer to read British authors over American ones and American poets over British ones. My favorite British author is Jane Austen (her humor transcends her time period which is an impressive feat) and my favorite American poet is Walt Whitman ("Song of Myself" echoes a lot of my own philosophies).
I wanted to be a storyteller before I wanted to be a reader. Having two parents who took the time to read to me, I saw the power of stories, and I would often make up stories in my head. After learning how to read, I soon learned how to write, and I began writing down most of the stories that I would make up.
I credit my third grade teacher, Mrs. Mercer, for really encouraging this love of writing and pushing me to continue to explore my own imagination and build on others' stories.
I currently have a multitude of writing projects on my desk. My favorite so far is an urban fantasy novel starring a thief and a magician.
reader
& writer
advocate
I cannot sit and complain about things that I have the power to change. While change can start with me, it cannot be achieved by me alone, so I firmly believe in promoting awareness and working with a group to make a difference. Here are some of the ways that I am trying to make the world a better place.
I participate in a student-run philanthropy called THON which works to provide emotional and financial support to families who have been affected by childhood cancer and funding to research for a cure. The year-long fundraising effort ultimately culminates in THON Weekend: a 46 hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon.
Here is a link to a New York Times' blogger's first experience with THON. It describes the atmosphere of THON weekend, the purpose of THON, and the university-wide importance of THON. Additionally, here is a link to the official THON website where you can learn more about the THON's history, THON families, and ways that you can contribute.
PEDIATRIC CANCER
MENTAL HEALTH
Mental health affects millions of people, but nobody ever wants to talk about it. As a result, many people who are suffering from mental illnesses go undiagnosed and they may feel isolated or like a burden on their family and friends. I believe that nobody should have to suffer in silence or be alone in a fight with mental illness. This is one of the areas that I am passionate about, but I am just starting my work for change. While I am not currently affiliated with any cause, I have begun to promote awareness and educate my peers and family members about this issue. Additionally, I believe it is important to incorporate discussion about mental health within schools, and have most recently incorporated it into my unit on Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Below is a song about depression and its effects that one student wrote for their final project.
OTHER
While the above are my personal causes, I am also more than happy to support others' causes. Below are some of the ways that I have helped others in their efforts to make a difference.
I have participated in a program called Hungry for Change. During Hungry for Change participants fast for 30 hours to raise awareness for worldwide hunger and financial support for Pamoza International.
Missions Trips: I have worked with Good Neighbors Inc. and
Group Work Camps to build and renovate homes for the working poor of America.
We are not just citizens of our towns and countries but of the world, so it only makes sense that we explore it! As the world becomes more and more connected and globalized, it is essential for us to learn about other cultures. Here are some of the adventures that I have embarked on to broaden my world view.
adventurer
I visited Germany in 2010 as a part of a German Exchange program with my high school. During the three week experience I visited Berlin, Eisenach, and Munich.
Germany
I traveled to the United Kingdom in 2017 with a friend for a spring break adventure. During our week abroad, we visited Edinburgh and London, taking in all of the history and sites we could.
United Kingdom
I took off to France in 2016 after graduating college to spend time with family and friends who I rarely get to see. During my month and a half stay, I learned more of the French language and visited Lille, Calais, Paris, and other towns in Northern France.
France
I ventured to New Zealand in 2015 to student teach abroad at Murrays Bay Intermediate School. During the month I was there, I explored the North Island from Waiheke to Auckland to Bethells Beach to Cambridge.
New Zealand
If you would like to get inside of my head and learn more about my philosophies, passions, adventures, and causes, follow my blog: The Wild Norry.
blogger
I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable,
I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.
WALT WHITMAN