Experience Summary
I have taught over 20 years in private & public schools in Hawaii & one summer in Michigan. My experience ranges from elementary to college level. I have also tutored SAT prep in English and math and instructed English As a Second Language for Hawaii Pacific University in their summer exchange programs with Asian countries. During the summers, I teach the Brown Reading Systems at private schools, most recently at I'olani. I have experience with both highly motivated and at-risk high school students, active military, and adults. During my years of teaching GED prep, I covered the four core subjects with focus on language arts and math.
Teaching Style
I consider myself a facilitator of knowledge, encouraging my students to discover answers for themselves. To me, the process of acquiring knowledge is as important as the knowledge itself. With gentle prodding, building on what students already know, they progress quickly through problems and/or assignments. Students know much more than they think they know. Because they are doing their own thinking, they're already invested in the process. When their answers come, they own them. This increases their confidence in tackling more challenging work & in realizing their own potential. The knowledge is out there, waiting to be discovered. It is this discovery that makes teaching and learning so rewarding.
My Hobbies
I love to travel. Our family tries to take an outdoor adventure trip every summer (rafting, kayaking, canoeing, camping, etc.) We like exploring national parks and especially enjoy Alaska. As we were both military children, my husband and I moved around quite a bit as children. Now, we live in one place but try to see the world whenever we can. I also enjoy tennis, soccer, volleyball, almost any game or puzzle, and, of course, reading. Even though teaching is my "job," I also treasure it as much as I do my hobbies.
| ACT |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| I would like to help with the verbal sections of the ACT. |
| Composition |
Proficiency: Expert
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| I enjoy writing, its process, & the vocabulary that goes into it. I feel competent helping others with their writing without imposing my writing style on them. I especially like teaching composition because it incorporates all aspects of language arts, which are near and dear to my heart. |
| English |
 This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Expert
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| As English was my major in undergraduate and post graduate work, I am at ease with any aspect of the subject. I have taught English and its various components at public and private schools, from elementary to college level. I have also instructed students in verbal SAT prep for many years. In addition to enjoying all aspects of writing instruction, I find "teaching" reading just as stimulating. Students often have a hard time with assigned reading as they haven't found the tools to de-mystify the material. By preparing them properly before each assignment, the material becomes more friendly. I have them search for several clues to the gist of the subject before embarking on the reading itself. This lays the groundwork for better understanding. |
| GED |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| I have instructed GED prep for over 10 years and feel competent helping others. |
| Grammar |
Proficiency: Expert
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| For some reason, I have loved grammar all my life. I was one of those few people who enjoyed parsing sentences, proofreading documents, and looking for errors throughout our media (of which there are many!). One of my favorite areas of teaching SAT prep was the editing section of the verbal test. Students enjoyed the chance to correct others' writing instead of having theirs corrected, and I enjoyed watching them do it. Good grammar can make or break any writing, so I am eager to help others improve their message by perfecting their grammar. |
| Homework Help |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| I am happy to help with homework up through high school level. I do not feel comfortable with upper level science and math but can assist in all other areas. |
| Language Arts |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| As language arts encompasses every aspect of English, I thoroughly enjoy it & feel comfortable with its many dimensions. |
| Literature |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| I only wish I had more time now for literature. I was a voracious reader who succumbed to the demands of life beyond books. I would like an excuse to renew that pursuit while working with students involved in it. |
| Math |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| I am very comfortable with math, having taught it at all grade levels. I have even tutored adults for SAT prep and occupational testing. I enjoy the subject because of the diversity of students who seek help in it. My goal is to remove the mystery of the subject, address its subtle presence in everyday life, & make it an area of comfort for reluctant students rather than an area of dread. At every opportunity, I try to make it fun, not frightening. |
| Pre-Algebra |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| Pre-algebra is the entry to a whole, new way of thinking in math; so it is a critical transition to algebra, high school math, and and what lies beyond. I have almost 20 years of experience teaching this important phase and have witnessed the most reluctant math student blossom into someone who looks forward to each new problem. The biggest barrier is overcoming fear. The best way to alleviate this fear is through patience and imagination. Once a student realizes that solving algebra problems is like a game, the more at ease he or she becomes. |
| PSAT |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| Having taught SAT verbal for many years, I welcome the opportunity to work with students in preparing for the PSAT. |
| Reading |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| I have always loved to read and look forward to many opportunities to do more of it. I enjoy the challenge of interpreting characters, events, and actions. I also appreciate the many writing styles authors/playwrights/poets employ to convey their thoughts. All of these interests fortify my ability to instruct others in the art of reading & help them enjoy its pursuit. Expository reading, however, is the bulk of most students' assignments, so developing prowess in that area is essential. I teach effective reading techniques in the summer and incorporate those principles in my instruction. Also, I believe that previewing information before beginning any reading assignment is the key to greater understanding of and curiosity about that subject. |
| Reading Comprehension |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| Having taught a reading program, GED, and SAT prep (verbal) for many years, I feel very confident with reading comprehension. I also have learned (and taught!) that reading rate determines proficiency of comprehension. I would like to pass this knowledge on to others. |
| SAT - Verbal |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| I have many years of experience preparing high school students and adults for the verbal section of the SAT. I enjoy every section of the test, even though some are more challenging than others! |
| Shakespeare |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| Shakespeare is one of my favorite playwrights. His breadth of knowledge, range of settings and characters, variety of genres, and his play with language are wonderfully engaging and challenging. I would like to share my enthusiasm for his works with others. |
| Spelling |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| Spelling has always come easily to me, having competed in a few spelling bees in my youth. English is a wonderfully diverse language, and its spelling idiosyncrasies are always fun but demanding. I would like to help others master this challenging subject. |
| Writing |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| I have written many papers in my life and would like to facilitate others in finding their own style and competence. As an English major in both undergraduate and post graduate work, I feel comfortable guiding others to excel in writing. |
| Writing Skills |
Proficiency: Experienced
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| I feel qualified to teach writing skills at any level. My years in English in undergraduate and post graduate work have given me much experience, and I have taught writing my entire teaching career. |