Gayle Martin

I have been teaching for 30 years, and during that time, I have taught various language arts classes from the seventh through the twelfth grade. I spent nine years at the middle school and the last 21 at the high school level. I have taught honors and AP courses, creative writing, poetry, and various literature electives as well as every required composition course my district offers. I have taught journalism classes at both levels and advised state and national award winning publications at both levels. In addition, I have served on numerous curriculum committees throughout my tenure, have served as the English department chair and as a teacher leader, and have piloted text books and worked on textbook adoption committees. I am currently the Curriculum Chair for the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association.

I respect my students. I respect their individuality, their abilities, and their time. So, I like to give my students as much choice as possible, I like to challenge them and give them room to question and collaborate, and I like to devote class time to the two things I value most--reading and writing--and reduce homework as much as possible. For me, reading and writing workshop works best for this. I was trained in the National Writing Project philosophy as a new teacher, and I still incorporate as much of that philosophy into my teaching as possible.

I have won no real awards, but my students have won hundreds over the years and, to me, that's more important. My biggest honors are when students come back or write me and tell me how my class has helped them in college or beyond or when my students go on to become English teachers or writers themselves.

I have a BA in English from Michigan State and a MA in Journalism Education from Michigan State.

I live and work in a suburb in Metro Detroit. I have two children. One is a graphic designer living in Brooklyn (who if I'm lucky sometimes redesigns my products for me!) , and the other is completing his degree with a double major in English and Philosophy. Both of my children attended the high school where I teach and were in my class once. I have been married to the best husband (sorry everyone else!) for 29 years and hoping for 29 more! When I'm not teaching or thinking about teaching, I read a lot, write novels that may or may not be published one day, and talk to the cats.