Experience Summary
I graduated in May 2009 from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA with a B.A. in English Literature and Language Arts with a concentration in grades 6-12. My senior year I began student teaching and started graduate level courses to begin obtaining my Master's in Teaching for English. While doing so I volunteered in the surrounding public school system for grades 4-12. I was a tutor for the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Program for Hines Middle School readers in Newport News, VA and for Menchville High School grades 10-12. I currently substitute teach for Oklahoma City Public Schools and would like to continue tutoring and teaching on the coast when I move back to South Carolina this summer (2010).
Teaching Style
As a recent college graduate with a liberal arts education, my teaching style is very eclectic. I believe it is most important to be nurturing and more of a coach, illuminating strengths and breaking down weaknesses, than an authority giving busy work and breaking down morale. Most students respond more positively and make more efficient use of their tutoring sessions if they somehow find a way to enjoy the subject matter. Using modern technology and being aware of contemporary pop culture and trends, I find I can relate with the students I tutor and often find ways to incorporate fun into learning.