Teaching AP Literature, Dual Credit World Literature, and Dual Credit Composition, teacher Eric Beard has helped countless students gain a stable ground in English courses.
Educating a massive number of students comes with numerous responsibilities to be tackled. For Beard, his main responsibility is to successfully teach a wide range of learning targets. Additionally, to provide sufficient and crucial feedback to help students grow.
“My main responsibilities are to help develop a clear curriculum that’s going to effectively teach students specific learning targets and that addresses the state standards. I have a lot of responsibilities with grading and giving students feedback,” Beard said.
Within the challenging courses Beard teaches, he strives to create a positive environment for students by first ensuring he has a positive attitude himself.
“I try to incorporate some brain breaks and some activities that help students stay grounded and focused,” Beard said. “I just tried to make sure that I’m in a good headspace, too, so that I can bring energy and bring the positivity that my students are going to feed off.”
Not only is it vital to have a positive classroom environment, but it is also important to have a school where students feel comfortable and can express themselves. Beard finds the best aspect of Crown Point to be the number of extracurricular activities offered.
“The best aspect of CPHS is how many outlets there are for students; there are clubs for robotics, there’s theater for students who are interested in the arts, there’s choir, and band. There are so many sports and clubs, but there are clubs for BPA, and there are just so many different activities and outlets that there is kind of something for everyone,” Beard said.
Outside of the classroom, Beard makes his priority his family, and spends his free time doing outdoor activities along with brain-stimulating activities.
“I spend time with my family, I have three kids who are in the district, and an amazing wife, and they are number one. Beyond that, I love to exercise, I love to be outdoors, and I love to read and listen to music,” Beard said.
Overall, Beard prioritizes his students’ success while maintaining a positive classroom environment.
