My name is Kristen Soper and I grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania. I am passionate about teaching English Language Arts because I want to prepare my students for success in speaking, listening, writing, creating, challenging themselves and others, and critical thinking. I achieve this by inspiring my students to be active and lifelong readers and learners, to communicate effectively, and to critically analyze the world around them.
My maiden name is Kristen Barnett-
Currently, I primarily teach Keystone English 9 at Garden Spot High School. I LOVE working in a one-to-one school where I can use an entirely online agenda with virtual lessons, activities, collaborative assignments, multimedia presentations, and interactive formative and summative assessments. By using an online agenda, I empower the students to review and complete learning objectives even outside of school. My students and I explore the successful habits of high school students, expository writing, short stories and literary devices and elements, research and presenting, persuasive writing and speaking, long fiction such as To Kill a Mockingbird and The Secret Life of Bees, and drama such as Romeo and Juliet. I enjoy using flipped instruction, student-focused instruction, and learning-focused lessons.
I also teach American Literature at the 11th grade level, where my students and I travel through America chronologically to study the evolution of thinking, writing, speaking, and American culture overall. We spent time looking at all of the major eras of literature in America, including The Crucible, Of Mice and Men, A Raisin in the Sun, and The Great Gatsby. The texts act as vehicles for student-led discussion about American life and choices, the American dream, and success.
Three years ago, I wrote the curriculum for and am currently teaching Contemporary Literature. My students are researching, presenting, and utilizing critical theories or lenses to analyze various genres of contemporary literature such as realistic fiction, drama, historical fiction, short stories, dystopian literature, poetry, world literature, and graphic novels. The class is entirely student-run with an emphasis on writing critical analyses of literature as a vehicle for class discussion and peer evaluation. We have studied such texts as Speak, Fools, Interpreter of Maladies, short story selections of the students’ choosing, The Giver, Son, Gathering Blue, Messenger, The Book Thief, poetry of the students’ choosing, and graphic novels of the students’ choosing. The students use these texts to explore the ways in which authors portray and challenge contemporary society.
I graduated from Exeter Township Senior High School in 2009 with high honors. I was active in orchestra, language clubs, Key Club, National Honor Society, and school plays. I was also a teacher’s assistant for Honors Western Civilization, which excited my passion for education.
I went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from the University of Delaware. Because of my love of reading, while at UD, I founded a literature organization called the Lumos Literary Club which celebrated popular fiction through quidditch tournaments, a Hunger Games, seek-and-finds, human chess, and more! These activities were featured in the UD Review, and the University of Delaware’s student newspaper two times. I was also president of Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, and actively participated in community service.
I love all aspects of language, including writing, reading, and anything to do with technology!
Mrs. Soper's Teaching Blog 