Experience Summary
I hold an MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) degree from the University of Puget Sound, am Washington State certified to teach secondary English/Language Arts, and am passionate about helping others to develop an appreciation of language in all its forms. I also have a background in history, Spanish, and creative writing, and feel that I am qualified to assist students of any ability level in these subjects. I have experience working with students of all ages in both supervisory and educational contexts, and am trained in numerous methods to help maximize student learning and success.
Teaching Style
The cliche saying of "practice makes perfect" does not stray too far from the core of my teaching philosophy, however I do differ on a key point. I believe that practicing anything (whether or not it relates to academics) can only be done successfully if certain foundational skills are present; just as a baseball player, regardless of inherent talent, will fail if they do not know how to hold a bat correctly, so will an English student fail, regardless of the inherent quality of their thought processes, if they do not understand how to properly structure an essay. Practice must thus be accompanied with structured guidance in order to ensure that a strong foundation is in place.