Amanda Memoli recently graduated from the English Education M.A. program at CSU and was hired to teach College Composition (CO150) this coming fall. We are excited to have her!
What are you most excited about for teaching at CSU?
I’m sure this sounds cliché, but I am most excited about getting to know the students. Every class is different, and it’s fun to get to know the personality of each group. I haven’t taught CO 150 for a year, so I’m also excited to try out new strategies and activities.
What do you like most about teaching in general?
I enjoy helping students move forward with their writing. When I can see them improve from paper to paper, when I can see the work that they put into this class pay off, it’s a good feeling. I appreciate when students seek me out for support, and I enjoy that the small class atmosphere allows me to form relationships with them.
“I enjoy helping students move forward with their writing. When I can see them improve from paper to paper, when I can see the work that they put into this class pay off, it’s a good feeling.”
How would you describe your teaching philosophy?
My teaching style is very student centered. I like to draw on student knowledge and student interests and let that inform my pedagogy and planning of the content. Formative assessment is also a big part of my teaching philosophy. I use a lot of low-stakes assignments to help me assess where my students are and where they need to go. I also think that it’s important for teachers to be reflective of their practice, so I am constantly evaluating how a lesson went and what I can do to improve.
When you’re not working or teaching what do you like to do?
In my spare time, I like to run, hike, and practice yoga. Other than that, I love travel, spending time with friends and family, writing and reading.
What are you doing with your summer before you start teaching?
I just defended my thesis a week ago, so up until now, I’ve been doing that! Right now, I’m backpacking through Guatemala for 2.5 weeks. (I´m writing this from a hostel in Santa Cruz.) Other than that, I’ll be visiting family, seeing friends, and catching up on reading.
What is something most people at CSU do not know about you?
In 2011, I walked the Camino de Santiago, a trail that runs 500 miles through northern Spain.