Mr. Manion

Q: What is the most challenging part about being an English teacher and why?

A: To complete the work or the higher level thinking for the student is always
something I intentionally try to avoid. On a teacher’s instinctual level, I want to help everyone as much as I can, so I find myself wanting to help a student immediately when they’re struggling. However, much of the time, it’s that actual struggle that strengthens thinking skills, and what they really need are encouragement and time, not someone to do the heavy lifting for them.

Q: What books are you most looking forward to teaching to your students and why?

A: While there are many excellent texts that are either core or optional to my two new curriculums, I’m eager to help teach “Black Boy” by Richard Wright. In my opinion, it’s essential American lit, and really, essential American history.

Q: How would you describe your teaching style?

A: This is a tricky question, as I like to not be too rigid in describing myself, as teachers need to adapt and be flexible. That said, I’d like to say that I’m approachable, easy going and energetic. I take content and skill-building very seriously, and I hold every single one of my students to the highest of expectations.

Q: As a teacher, what is one thing you struggle with, and how do you deal with that struggle?

A: I’ll say that pacing of texts is always something I have to keep an eye on. I like to pull in so many supplemental texts that generate discussions and activities that I can sometimes fall a bit behind in pacing. Sometimes, that’s great, and we’re all better for that divergence. Other times, I’ll have to play a bit of catch up. This is just one of the countless challenges that make up teaching.

Q: If you could give your students one piece of advice, what would it be?

A: No matter what happens, never, ever, ever give up. Yeah; it’s a cliche. However, some cliches are popular because of the timeless weight they hold. It’s through the struggles, through the difficulties, through the times that push us nearly to the point of exhaustion, that we ultimately can reach the next plateau if we have that mindset of grit and endurance.