Experience Summary
I began tutoring as a para-educator for the Tacoma school district in 1997. While I worked at two different elementary schools, I tutored children in all grades and all subjects, with a focus in reading and writing. I facilitated my own reading circle with the fourth graders, tutored the first graders in how to tell time and count money, and conducted science experiments with the third graders to name a few of my accomplishments. My life's journey has also taken me down the path of teaching English as a Second Language. I tutored Asian children 12-18 years of age with minimal understanding of the English language. I have also tutored ESL privately. While going to school to obtain my ECE degree, I had to complete a practicum. Within this learning arena, I completed three months as a preschool teacher which helped me hone my skills as a facilitator of learning. While attending the University of Washington I was also a participant in Literacy AmeriCorps. While working for HeadStart, I was a literacy specialist. My duties included writing curricula and conducting workshops on said curricula to parents with HeadStart children. Finally, I have had experience working with adolescent females in recovery and helping them with their daily homework.
Teaching Style
I possess a very eclectic and kinesthetic teaching style. I believe that children learn best when as many senses as possible are used in teaching them. When a child sees, hears, touches, smells, and sometimes tastes what they are learning, their brains are using multiple connections to hardwire whatever you are trying to teach them, therefore they will be more apt to remember than if taught by rote. I also believe that it's necessary to think about their physical, intellectual, emotional, and social well-being while they are learning. Children need to move. They will not retain as much information if they are not given breaks in routine at least every 15 to 20 minutes. Their intellect needs to be stimulated, they will not retain information they believe to be irrelevant. Therefore, it is our job as educators to show them how they can apply what they learn to their everyday environment. When a child is asked "What did you do today at school?", the most common answer will be about recess-other than the standard "nothing". This is because what they remember most is the emotional and social interaction at a time when they believe that all they are doing is having "fun". That is what my tutoring style is all about. Learning, while taking out the mundane, and having fun!