Alex Catena

I am going into my third year of teaching at Riverview High School in Sarasota, Florida. I have exclusively taught 9th grade English, and since we are an I.B. (International Baccalaureate) World School and I teach the Pre-Diploma Program Candidates, I work with an accelerated group of students.

I truly believe in the I.B. Approaches to Teaching and Learning (ATL), which focuses on inquiry-based learning and places the student at the center of the learning. I rarely do direct full lectures and direct instruction. Instead, I focus on working with small groups, and giving students the knowledge and the power to inquire, ask questions, and interpret the literature through their own loved curriculum. With that being said, I use an interactive notebook to create a student portfolio throughout the year. I use a variety of journal questions, handouts, charts, and rubrics. I also focus greatly on the I.B. Learner Profile and teach students how to be balanced, caring, and principled young adults who want to take their knowledge and make a positive impact in the community.

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Riverview High School High School Graduate International Baccalaureate Diploma Recipient Florida International University Bachelor's in Special Education Currently enrolled in the University of South Florida studying Liberal Arts with a focus in Literature

I am an I.B. Learner and teacher tried and true. Many of the products that I have created focus on student inquiry and really engage the students in looking at literature through multiple perspectives and various lenses. I don't just believe in the rigor of I.B., but also the learner profile. An I.B. World education is more than studying, it's about looking at problems through multiple perspectives to find solutions whose benefits supersede the individual. I hope that through my interaction with students, they begin to see their role in making this world a better place.