Adam Noack

Background:

I was a part of the old Trent-Queen's Concurrent Teacher Education Program.  With this, I graduated from Trent in 2001 and Queen's in 2002.  At Trent, I majored in English Literature and Sociology. I was certified with my I/S divisions with my teachables as English and Geography.  Since then, I have completed my credentials with Guidance Part 1 and my honours specialists in English and Contemporary Studies.

What they did with their degree:

y teaching placement within my Bachelor of Education year was at Renfrew Collegiate starting in October 2001.  That placement morphed into a Long-Term Occasional Position in April 2002 and permanent full-time position in September 2002.  I was fortunate and blessed to have a career approaching 20 years in the same school that I did in my placement in.  It has given me a tremendous opportunity to help follow the history of the school, build community roots, and to now start teaching the children of students that I once taught.

I always seem to have a variety of courses on my timetable that vary from English and Senior Social Science.  I love the variety that each course brings and the connections these courses have to current events and every day life.  In the last 5 years my concentration has shifted a little with a focus on Media Studies courses. 

Teaching has allowed me the opportunity to coach school sport and be involved in sport leadership with involvement through EOSSAA (Eastern Ontario Secondary School Athletics Association) and OFSAA (Ontario Federation of Secondary Athletic Associations)

Piece of Advice:

 Education seems to be shifting for the better and the change throughout my career in terms of pedagogy has been substantial.  I firmly believe; however, that influential teachers build trusting relationships with students.  I try to find common ground with each student through some non academic interest whether it be through sport, through music, or through popular culture.  Talking to students about these interests really helps build rapport.  Someone early on in my career told me the importance of greeting each student at the door every day with a smile and I hold this gesture as the most important of my day.  It helps build rapport and helps to assess the student's mood and well-being prior to the actual learning time. Seeing an adult smile and the opportunity to feel safe may be the one bright light a student needs to get through the day. 

If there are aspiring English teachers out there, I strongly recommend seeking out the work of Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher.  Their work to re-shape English classrooms has been instrumental in transforming my English classes over the last 3 years.