Experience Summary
I have been tutoring for as long as I can remember. In fact, the rich experiences I had tutoring played a primary role in my pursuit of teaching. I tutored throughout high school and college, working with different ages and subjects. Most of my experience has been with intermediate-grade and middle-school students for reading, math, and science. However, I also tutored Spanish at the college level. I earned a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Spanish, had a successful student teaching experience, and went on to teach fifth grade last year. Teaching has prepared me well for reaching the varying needs of individual students. It has also confirmed my desire to work with children one-on-one and walk with them through the daily, often-grueling but always-rewarding, learning process.
Teaching Style
The first year of teaching... Nothing could have taught me more about teaching or myself than this past year. My teaching style was solidified; my confidence in classroom management was grounded; and my teacher judgment was clarified. I am a gentle teacher, but not timid. I establish rapport by loving and respecting my students, first and foremost. It is important that they trust me before they can learn from me. I like to teach with the same enthusiasm for every concept and idea I present, as if each were the neatest thing I've ever heard. My goal is to equip and excite the students, and then draw them in, so they can take charge of the exploration. I encourage my students to think more critically, to imagine more vividly, to communicate more intentionally, and overall, to push themselves to create a better product than they thought was their best.