About Me

I am a 7th and 8th grade ELA teacher at St. Paul's School, Visalia, California. I have taught at the community college level as well as at high schools. I earned a Master's Degree in English, Theology, and Pedagogy/Educational Science from the University in Tuebingen, Germany.

My main focus is on how to incorporate more experiential strategies into the middle and high school ELA classrooms to make abstract writing concepts more accessible. 

If you are interested in learning more on how this looks like, click on the

"Read the CATE article" button. I wrote a reflection titled "Asking the Right Questions" on one of my units.

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I also emphasize the importance of vertical alignment; students learn to make connections between what they learn with me and what they have learned in previous grade levels.

Publications

"Asking the Right Questions" (2020) in the journal California English. This reflection essay won 2nd place in the CATE professional writing contest 2020: a contest for all English teachers across California.

In March 2021, I had the honor of having one of my teaching strategies be published in the NY Times. Click on the "Read the NY Times article" to learn more about "Telling Stories: Narrative Elements in Argument Essays." 

In fall of 2022, the renowned journal California English published my article "Pushing the Pause Button" about my experience as a teacher during the pandemic. 

In January 2023, my debut children's book Stripes--a picture book for children and adults alike--got published by Storybook Genius Publishing. 

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My husband and I live in the mountains with three children (4, 7, and 12), chickens, bunnies, and cats. I love coffee and oat milk, music, a minimalist lifestyle, yoga, nature, and travelling. I have never been to Disneyland or on a rollercoaster. I don't like Starbucks. Etsy and Amazon gift cards are my favorite.

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More information about me can be found on my personal website: www.leamaryanow.com