When I began searching for a graduate program to apply to I knew that I wanted to choose a concentration that had a direct relation to the area of literacy instruction. We live in a world full of text and an individuals literacy can greatly impact their day to day life. After spending two years teaching in a rural community where the majority of our student population was below grade level in their reading I knew I wanted to find a program that helped me learn best practices and method for literacy education. I wanted to spend my time learning from professors and classmates who viewed learning as an ongoing process where individual experiences were used to highlight the educational experience.
After beginning my educational journey in Michigan State University's Master of Education Program I added an additional area of study to my degree and began completing the courses necessary to complete a Graduate Certificate in Educational Psychology. In addition to my desire to bridge educational gaps through literacy I acknowledge there are many individual differences within each persons educational experience. Through intentional investigation in the required courses in the field of Educational Psychology I was able to further my understanding of the psychological processes of learning, developmental differences, and the impact of motivation in one's educational journey.
The three buttons below will lead you to learn about how three specific course I have taken in pursuit of my MA Ed. have influenced my thinking and practices as an educator.