Experience Summary
I have joyfully taught students in grades 1 through 5 in Los Angeles urban schools, and in the suburbs of Plano. I have also been a Literacy Coach, assisting teachers in grades kindergarten through fifth to enhance their teaching skills in reading, writing, vocabulary, phonics, etc. - all areas of literacy. I have worked one-on-one and in small groups with "at-risk" students to pin-point their areas of weakness and fill in the gaps. In addition, as a Literacy Coach, I have conducted numerous professional development sessions for teachers in grade levels from kinder through fifth grade. I, myself, am a committed life-long learner.
Teaching Style
I treat children with the same respect and dignity that I treat adults, regardless of their age. I don't use "baby voices," as my goal is to elevate them to their highest academic levels. I've been told I'm a "cool" teacher by students because I treat them "like people, not kids." I use humor whenever appropriate, if that "hooks" a student. I do whatever is necessary to engage the individual personalities of each child and endeavor to make whatever it is I'm teaching them meaningful to their immediate lives.
My Hobbies
I read a lot, fiction and non-fiction, hard-copy and on-line. I love to bike, swim and walk for exercise. I love movies and see them very often, with popcorn! I'm close to my family and visit my parents frequently. I watch a variety of TV shows - comedies, dramas, news/interest shows. I like to keep up with world news daily and teaching/educational advancements and changes. Pulling weeds in my garden has become a hobby now!
Other Comments
I consider it a privilege to teach children, to open the doors to their mind and help them discover their academic strengths and overcome their weaknesses. Children are wonderful, fascinating little people.
| Type |
Level |
Year |
Title |
Issued By |
| Degree |
Bachelors |
1982 |
Bachelors in English, with honors |
University of Texas, Austin |
| Degree |
Doctorate |
1987 |
Doctor of Jurisprudence, law degree |
University of Houston Law Center |
| Degree |
Masters |
2005 |
Masters in Education |
University of California, Los An... |
| Certification |
Early Childhood - 6th grade |
2010 |
Texas Educator Certificate |
State of Texas |
| Certification |
Multiple Subject Teaching Creden... |
2002 |
California Teaching Credential |
State of California |
| Award |
Elementary School |
2002 |
Gold Apple Award Recipient |
Los Angeles Unified School District |
| Basic Learning Skills |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| As an experienced and proficient teacher of students in grades 1-5, I have taught all elementary subject areas - math, language arts, reading, science, social studies and health. I also teach students study skills, note-taking, and test-taking strategies. |
| Elementary Math |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I love teaching math using a variety of strategies to insure mastery. Math is actually fun to teach and learn (if taught well)! |
| Elementary Phonics |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I can make phonics simple to learn for students, having taught students to read using phonics-based materials and programs. |
| Elementary Reading |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| The key to getting young children to enjoy reading, beyond comprehending what they read, is to find the type of books that engage each child. Then reading becomes a pleasure, an adventure, not a chore. |
| Elementary Science |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| The key to breaking down non-fiction, reading-to-learn material is making good use of chapter titles, paragraph headings, bold words, etc. - the structure of the reading material. That structure helps students to break down the material into understandable chunks. Also, like all of education, connecting the material to real life makes the information relevant to a child. |
| Elementary Social Studies |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| History that is somehow linked to today's news, however simplified for the age-group one is teaching, makes history so much more accessible and meaningful for young children. |
| Elementary Study Skills |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| As a life-long learner myself, I find this area vital to share with students. Study skills are skills they will use forever, when reading a news paper, critically assessing on-line information, etc. I've been a successful student all my life and share my own strategies for learning. |
| Elementary Vocabulary |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| Vocabulary enhances both written and oral communication. Ability to shift vocabulary to suit your target audience enhances job interview prospects and career advancement. For younger children, vocabulary learning has to be made fun and meaningful to their lives. They've got to use it and build it gradually. Once they see it's value, they tend to feel very special about using more and more sophisticated vocabulary, no matter how young they are. There are many fun ways to teach vocabulary to children of every age. |
| English |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| I was a straight-A English major at the University of Texas, Austin, and president of the National English Honor Society at UT. |
| Grammar |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| I've worked as a Literacy coach in the Los Angeles Unified School District, in addition to teaching all areas of language arts to students in grades 1 through 5. My experience includes extensive experience in teaching to students for whom English is not their first language. As an adult and a life-long learner, I still "edit" the books I read for fun! It's second-nature to me! |
| Language Arts |
 This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Expert
|
| As a teacher and Literacy Coach, I have worked in large and small groups, and one-on-one teaching all areas of language arts to all levels of students, including non-English proficient students. |
| Literature |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| At the University of Texas at Austin, I was a Literature major and still read daily for enjoyment and edification. |
| Math |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| Elementary math, K-6th grade, is my area of expertise. |
| Reading |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| As a life-long learner, I enjoy reading all sorts of material every day - fiction and non-fiction, newspapers (real ones and on-line!), magazines and education journals. I enjoy reading a variety of non-fiction topics, including the fields of history, politics, science, health and current world events. |
| Reading Comprehension |
This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Expert
|
| I have been very successful sharing strategies for comprehending reading, especially when reading-to-learn, for more than a decade with students of all ages. |
| Spelling |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I know phonics very well and am interested in word origins, both of which make spelling much easier to understand and learn! |
| Writing |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I learned to enjoy writing in college and am quite proficient at teaching writing for different purposes, for example, a persuasive essay. I will always love writing and editing, and particularly enjoy good writing - to the point of underlining well-written sentences in books I read! |