It's my intention

It's my intention that you will read these posts and be convinced that the experiences I have had over the years of my life have prepared me to teach high school social studies.

In the summer of 2007 I went back to school to pursue Teacher Certification in Secondary Social Studies and a Master's degree in Secondary Education. That summer I took American Civilization 1865-Present and History of Women in the U.S. In the fall I took Intro to Geography, Topics in European Civilization Western Europe to 1715, General Psychology, and Foundations of Education. The following spring I took Learning and Development in the Secondary Setting, World History for the Secondary Classroom, Instructional Design, and Examining History, Community, and Social Justice in Education. The summer of 2008 I took Differentiated Instruction. That fall I took Curriculum and Methods of Teaching History and Social Studies, U.S. History for the Secondary Classroom, American Government for the Secondary Classroom, and completed my 100 hour observational internship. In the spring I completed my Student Teaching at Affton High School and my Social Studies Teaching Seminar.

These classes, a mix of social studies content and educational theory/practice, have added to my understanding of education and teaching, adolescent behavior, and the contextual nature of history. To quote from one of my professors, "Ms. Reh easily grasped the more sophisticated nuances of both the historical content and teaching strategies" (Westhoff). I have maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout these past two years, and have only 12 hours left to complete the Masters Degree. I am a member of the National Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and largest collegiate honor society dedicated to the recognition and promotion of academic excellence in all disciplines. I am also a member of the Organization of American Historians, a professional organization devoted to the study of American History.

At Affton High School, I created and implemented curriculum units for two periods of Honors World History II and two periods of World History II. I co-chaperoned the student trip to the 56th Presidential Inauguration and acted as digital photography technology coordinator on the trip. I developed innovative curriculum to accomodate different learning styles, integrated technology using various methods including SmartBoard Interactive Whiteboard, and maintained a positive learning environment by establishing positive rapport with students and teachers. I also participated in Parent Teacher Conferences, Professional Development Days, and curriculum planning meetings.

I am currently the Junior Varsity Soccer Coach for Notre Dame High School in St. Louis, Missouri, my alma mater. The season starts this spring, so I will be sure to keep you updated as to our schedule and record once we get started. As a player, I was a NAIA Scholar Athlete 2000-2004, MYSA Youth Soccer Head Coach 2000-2002, NAIA National Tournament Final Four 2003, MSHSAA 1A-3A 2nd Place State Championship 2000, MSHSAA 1A-3A 3rd Place State Championship 1999, and Honorable Mention All State Team 1999. I am skilled in Coaching Principles, strength and conditioning, weights, circuit training, health, and fitness. I also coached youth basketball from 1997-2000.