Statement of Purpose The world in which the skills associated with the English Language Arts classroom are

used is changing. Publishing is transitioning from print to digital form. Traditionally text-only mediums are embracing multi-media platforms and being enriched. Librarians are moving out of libraries and into information management positions in Fortune 500 companies. Writers are leaving behind short stories and novels for epic video gaming sagas. The needs of the global workforce are changing, and the English Language Arts classroom must change to meet those needs by preparing students to use traditional ELA skills in modern environments and using modern tools. The roots may remain the same, but the methods for interacting with the written and spoken word are constantly changing. Homer is still relevant, but how we communicate about the themes within his works has shifted. And I submit that I am committed to exposing students to the vast array of technological and new media avenues for work in fields founded upon or dependent upon English Language Arts skills, instructing them in their use and possibilities. Furthermore, I believe the activities in the classroom should not simply be geared toward satisfactory attainment of standardized skills. Rather, instruction and the assessment that informs and guides it should be built around practical, relevant projects and assignments that marry the CA Common Core Standards to real-world situations. This will create more engaged, motivated learners with more realistic and efficacious skills. And finally, I hold that educators must be models of and hold students accountable to life skills that advance their knowledge and capacity for citizenship and neighborliness, not just academic achievement. Public education institutions are uniquely suited to ensure that future generations are made up of well-rounded, responsible, intelligent, and productive citizens of the world. This is an expectation and possibility for every student regardless of any feature of their physicality, background, socio-economic status, or personality and beliefs. We need all our students to have the skills to maintain and advance civilization and to improve upon it.