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An interview with Angela Benson, our talented clinician from Nashville, TN.
Q. What is one book and one movie you think every student should read or watch?
I couldn’t pick just one, so here are two: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger. They both read very well out loud and stand the test of time.
I also utilize film in my classes, and the one that stands out to me is Big Miracle which is a story about a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle. It’s great for teaching middle school geography standards and I even have accompanying worksheets for it!
Q: What advice would you give to a student who is anxious about succeeding in school?
I would start by having a conversation with the student to identify what success in school means for them. We are all unique individuals and success can mean different things to each student as well as the strategies to achieve it.
Q: What were you like as a high school student?
I grew up with high parental expectations and was always a very high achieving student. During a part of my high school career, I attended a private school where I participated in competitions for my Latin club, was involved in theater and the writing club, played violin in junior symphony, and was part of the tennis team.
When I was pulled out of the private school for my senior year into a public school setting, I quickly became bored and disengaged. In the new school setting, I was not given the same opportunities to challenge myself. I think many students can relate to my experience.
Q: What is your dream job?
Being a teacher is my dream job in many ways. When I was younger, I wanted to be Indiana Jones, participating in archaeological digs. I also explored the idea of working for the state department because I was always very good with languages.
Now, I would say my dream job is to be a writer. I have been working on a couple of novels in the past few years so I would love to make writing more than a passing hobby.
Q: What is the most memorable thing you’ve ever learned about a student?
I taught a student in 8th grade, who now plays for the New England Patriots. He came from a very difficult family background and had goals to attend Vanderbilt University and play for the NFL. He made this dream his reality through hard work and is now doing exactly what he always wanted to do. I’m still very close to him and frequently attend his games. His journey is one that really sticks out to me.
Angela attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN for her B.A. and her M.A. She had a double major in History and Religious studies in undergrad and earned her M.A. in Education. That work led her to Union Theological Seminary in New York City where she earned an M.A. in Systematic Theology and Ethics with a focus in Education and Counseling from CSU Eastbay.
Areas of Focus: Secondary Education, Written Expression, Language Arts, English/Literature/Grammar, Social Studies/History, Test Prep, Latin, Executive Function, Feuerstein’s Instrumental Enrichment, Critical Thinking Skills, Organizational & Study Skills, Metacognitive Strategies, Social-Emotional Learning
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