Experience Summary
I have worked as a special education teacher for about 15 years, both in Florida and New York. I have worked as a teacher with children from middle grades to high school. I have also been a tutor for children in grades K through 7. I began a tutoring program for one of my schools by enlisting members of the community to work with students in need of passing the FCAT. I matched the tutors with the students, prepared the lesson plans for the tutors and followed through to make sure the students' needs were being met. I am semi-retired now but love helping kids learn, achieve and feel good about themselves. That is why I have applied for this tutoring position.
Teaching Style
I feel one of the best ways to help students who have fallen behind in their studies is with one-on-one tutoring. My teaching style has always been to gain the trust and confidence of my students and talk with them about where they are having problems. Once I have their confidence, that is when the real learning begins. I give a lot of praise when it is due and never fault a child for making a mistake. My motto is "...mistakes are how you learn. Once you know what you did wrong, then you can fix it." My previous experience as a tutor has shown me that my way of reaching kids works for me. I believe I have made a difference in the lives of the children I have taught and tutored.