Susan Spivey
Susan Spivey is a member of the Aim Academy Online leadership team and an English teacher.
Susan is enthusiastic about sharing her love of literature with students and finds tremendous joy in teaching. Susan earned her MA in English from Arizona State University and her BS in Journalism from the University of Maryland. She was recently chosen to participate in the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History’s 2023 professional development seminar for teachers held at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill. Prior to teaching, Susan worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for several years before starting her family. Susan also worked as a freelance writer for magazines and as a substitute teacher in public schools. Additionally, Susan has worked as a writing coach at a local community college. She has taught English for many years and has been teaching for Aim Academy Online since 2015. When she is not reading a book, discussing a book, or teaching about books, you can find her in her garden, likely with a book nearby. You can contact Susan at [email protected].
Classes
I have been a lover of literature for as long as I can remember. My passion for reading led me to teaching where I could share my love of books and authors with others. British literature is one of my favorite subjects to teach as there is such a variety of genres to explore and the works we cover show how authors and their works influenced much of the changes that occurred over centuries. As students gain a deeper understanding of how literature often mirrors life, the conversations we have in class become richer. It is a joy to see students gain confidence in their ability to discuss classic works.
I find teaching Christian Literature to be extremely rewarding on many levels. First, there is the opportunity to engage students with challenging spiritual literature and see them persevere through difficult texts. As they learn to appreciate the nuances of the novels, short stories, and poems read for this class, they become much more willing to share their thoughts and opinions on these works, both verbally in class discussions, and in written responses. Secondly, as students compare the varied approaches to writing about the Christian faith it allows them to examine their own beliefs. The discussions I have had with students taking this class has been rich.
This is a year-long survey course of American Literature. Students will become familiar with a wide range of American voices, from the legends passed along orally by Native Americans to the writings being produced by contemporary authors today. In addition to recognizing the major writers found in American literature, students will also learn to identify genres, movements, and historical events that helped shape this young country.
This course will be offered in the 2020-2021 school year.