Experience Summary
I have been teaching at the University, Community College, High School, and Middle School levels for over twenty years now. My experience has been diverse and has been in front of diverse students. Your age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, religious persuasion, etc. are what make you so unique and what I find exciting in teaching/tutoring you! Throughout these past two decades, I have encountered so many different types of thinkers, learners, people, etc., and I consider each experience to have been a mutually rewarding and educational time (After all, we are lifelong learners, who should find growth in everything in which we engage.).
Accordingly, I have enjoyed teaching a wide array of courses. which make me capable of tutoring several content areas. In literature, I have taught classes in World, American, and British Lit; additionally, I have taught genre specific courses in poetry, nonfiction, fiction, drama, multi-cultural literature, detective fiction, science fiction, feminist, Marxist, and gay/lesbian literature.
However, writing has been my specific area of expertise. The bulk of my teaching experience has been in composition and developmental writing. I have consistently taught courses in general creative writing, poetry, creative nonfiction, drama, and fiction. I am adept at making grammar and mechanics relatable and easy to grasp; as well, I can help you understand how to craft academic and professional style essays. Finally, as writing often involves research, in order to substantiate argumentative points, I can help you hone or acquire necessary skills in researching topics and in incorporating said research into your writing.
While I am an English instructor, I have been fortunate to have enjoyed opportunities to teach history, philosophy, speech, communication, drama, acting, and theology. As a result, I can assist students who need work and development in these areas.
Teaching Style
I pride myself on being innovative and tailoring teaching to the needs and interests of my students. An ability to relate the material to one's life and take ownership over your learning is the core of my teaching philosophy; therefore, I teach in a manner that best enable my student(s) to maximize this goal. Learning should be an experience, and I strive to develop activities and approaches to make this experience a pleasant and engaging one. My classes are fun. The activities are not wastes of time, and the end result is measurable growth in the subject area.
My best quality is my ability to adapt and think on the fly. This means that I can address concerns and issues as they manifest; also, it means that I am not locked into one way of doing something. This means that on a given day, I can adjust the manner and method of instruction to suit the needs and interest of my student(s).
My Hobbies
To be a good writer involves being a good reader. I learned this late in my development and have been voraciously reading ever since. In addition to reading, I am obsessed with good television shows, movies, and Pokémon. Yes, Pokémon! :-)
I like to hike in the woods and kayak when I am outdoors. I am trying to learn to play soccer, as I love to watch it live and on TV.