TEACHER

NAME: MR. REX HOUSTON
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SCHOOL: BATESVILLE JUNIOR HIGH

CLASS: 8TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS

SCHOOL PHONE: 662-563-4503


ABOUT MR. H.

I am a 1996 graduate of South Panola High School. I am also a 2001 graduate 
of the University of Mississippi where I received a Bachelor of Arts degree 
with a major in English and a minor in history.  The 2011-2012 school year 
will be my eleventh year of teaching.  I have taught everything from sixth 
grade language arts to eighth grade language arts during my teaching career.  
This year I will be teaching six sections of 8th grade language 
arts.  I am looking forward to teaching a new crop of students this year.  I 
put my master degree on hold, but I do hope to return and complete it within 
the next year.  I am anxiously awaiting the results of my National Board for 
Professional Teaching Standards portfolio.  I will recieve my results 
late November of this year.

During the month of June 2011, I participated in the best professional 
development that I have ever had.  The University of Mississippi Summer 
Writing Institute has caused me to rethink my teaching strategies.  I left 
the month long workshops with many ideas and activities to enhance reading 
and writing instruction in my classroom.  

My future professional plans include completing a doctoral degree in 
educational administration and supervision, working as a teacher consultant 
for University of Mississippi Writing Project, and improving writing and 
reading instruction in my school.    

I am a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church where I am very active serving 
as vice president of the choir  and youth director.  I will also begin 
teaching Sunday school(Teenagers) very soon. I am a member of the prestigious 
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.  I am very active in working with Phi Beta 
Sigma's youth mentoring organization, The Sigma Beta Club! .  

MR. HOUSTON'S CERTIFICATIONS:
     ENGLISH 7-12
     SOCIAL STUDIES 7-12

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                                MR. HOUSTON'S SCHEDULE
1st Period- English 8
2nd Period- English 8
3rd Period- English 8
4th Period- Planning/Conference Period
5th Period- English 8
6th Period- English 8
7th Period- English 8
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Mission For The Class

My mission for my language arts classes is for the students to be engaged in 
learning at all times and to become better readers, writers, and thinkers.  
I want to move my students to the highest level possible.   

It is my desire to take the students that I am given and teach them how to 
get along without my help.  I believe in the old aphorism, "Give a man a 
fish, feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and feed him for life"  I am 
here to teach my students how to survive and function without the teacher. 
This will be done by encouraging independent thinking.
 
I want my class to be a positive and safe environment.  I look forward to 
my students enjoying coming to my class.  I envision a classroom where the 
teacher and the students come up with innovative and creative ideas to make 
class an enjoyable learning experience.

As a result of my participation in summer writing institute, I am very 
passionate about successfully integrating writing instruction with reading 
instruction.  I believe that the two can be successfully merged in any 
classroom.