Cristina James

Activist, Artist, Blogger, Brainstormer, Change Agent, Concerned citizen, Connector, Consultant, Educator/Teacher, Event planner, Explorer, Foodie, Global soul, Idea generator, Job-seeker, Parent, Writer/Editor

Hi! My name is Tina James. I have taught English literature and writing developed innovative curriculum, and administrated at the undergraduate, high school, and middle school level for the past 25 years. For the past 13 years, I served as an English teacher, curriculum coordinator, and academic dean at The Benjamin School in North Palm Beach, Florida. I am committed to empowering the voices of students by coalescing TED and TEDx talks into the classroom as reimagined critical texts to both amplify readings of canonical texts and to teach the life lessons students will need to single handedly organize their own TEDx event.

Literature, dignity, equality for all, teaching, being a parent and partner, and listening to all views- even if it makes my blood boil- in these dark and polarized and divisive times.

The truly effective English teacher does not disseminate during the school year lessons pre-planned during the summer in a rote and mindless fashion but prescribes curriculum thoughtfully in an ad hoc fashion based upon the situations arising amongst students and which thus are of imminent relevance and import to them. In the classroom where students are having trouble listening, conversing, and working together, why not flood the classroom with literary texts and TED talks about listening, overspeaking, and conversations. Read Hills Like White Elephants by Hemingway against Say Yes by Tobias Wolff against Arrangement in Black and White by Dorothy Parker against the TED talks Why It's Worth Listening to People You Disagree with by Zachary R Wood and 10 Ways To Have a Better Conversation by Celeste Headlee. Have rich intratextual discussions about the literature read against the TED talks, reflect on listening and how to talk together, and come one step closer to forming of your arguing students the cohesive working group that will both organize and speak at their own TEDx event.

1970's Disco Music, Creating Cool Ideas I need other People to Implement!, English Literature and Culture Studies, Everything about Bad sitcoms from 1970- present day, Teaching English - and writing