ZOE GORSKI
Showcase
This page is a showcase of my favorite pieces completed during my graduate program, in which I studied Literacy Education and P-12 School and Postsecondary Leadership. Each selected piece demonstrates three overarching themes that were prominent throughout my studies and further developed me as an educator: Literacy Learners, School Leadership, and Reflective Practice. Woven throughout these works are themes of diversity, representation, and lifelong learning. Under the description of each piece of work is a button linking to the full text version, open to anyone interested in learning more about my research and reflection over the past two years.
Literacy Learners
Literacy Learner Analysis
In this case study, I demonstrate my ability to design comprehensive literacy lessons and assessments for individualized instruction. The paper shows my ability to perform diagnostic assessments and determine a student's
needs for strategies related to specific reading purposes.
Role of Literature in the
Classroom
This paper expresses my understanding of the role literature plays in a classroom setting and my own responsibility to select authentic texts and help students create meaningful connections with texts. This paper states my intentions to connect people across time, race, and gender through literature.
Writing Conferences
My ability to convene and teach others about writing conferences is demonstrated in this paper. I advocate for the use of writing conferences in the language arts classroom as teaching writing through a process approach. Included in this paper are preparing the classroom setting, student, and teacher for successful conferences to occur.
School Leadership
School Leadership Teams
In this research paper I discuss the effectiveness of School Leadership Teams (SLT) and provide a plan for a school in a case study to use SLT. My work in this paper discusses the value of including teacher voices when making decisions for schools and shows my dedication to becoming an active voice in school leadership.
Professional Development Workshop
Because of my passion to teach others about writing instruction as a process, I created a professional development workshop for educators. The workshop teaches educators how to effectively respond to student writing. The methods I use are research-based and promote active, self-directed learning.
Analysis of Dear White People
This is a critical analysis of the school leadership in the film Dear White People. I wrote this essay to argue for culturally responsive leadership in schools and promote self-reflexivity within school climates. This paper demonstrates my commitment to creating a welcoming, diverse, and culturally responsive environment in my classroom and school.
Reflective Practice
Conceptual Maps and
Multicultural Education
This is a reflexive essay in which I examine the limits of conceptual maps, and the implications of classification for multicultural education. Conceptual maps help us define our worlds, but can limit our perspectives and abilities to connect with others. I advocate for recognition of our own limitations through self-reflection.
Philosophy of Teaching
This is a 600 word description of my philosophy of education, grounded in my belief that learning is synonymous with living. Learning is a lifelong journey that never ends and my mission as a teacher is to help students realize the importance of learning and appreciate opportunities to grow.