All of
Dona’s current tutoring subjects are listed at the left. You
can read more about
Dona’s qualifications in specific subjects below.
American History
American history is a fascinating as well as complex history. The events that have shaped our country are sometimes more violent than we care to admit. Part of this subject can include our Constitution. This is an area which I have helped many students to understand. The Constitution is a living document, as is the history of our great nation.
Art History
I was a Fine Arts minor in college, therefore I have a wide background in art history. I have traveled extensively and have visited as many museums and cultural spots as possible. This has always been a passion of mine. I can assist a student with classical art history as well as up to present day arts and trends.
Drawing
I was a Fine Arts major in college. I specialized in drawing and painting. I was an art teacher for 5 years, where I taught K-12 art classes, covering a wide range of media and experiences. I have recently been in a gallery for my pastel work, and have just been selected for a state wide juried art show of pastels. My background is extensive.
Elementary (K-6th)
I have taught several grade levels for 25 years. I have worked with struggling students and tutored in math and reading.
I can help students to master math skills that include: division, fractions, problem solving and pre algebra.
In reading and related language arts area: I can assist students to master skills in reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, understanding functional tex,t understanding graphs, and more. I would begin by assessing a student's skills and develop a plan of action.
I have a strong background in writing as well. All objectives that are covered on the AIMs test in these three specific areas I can work with your child to master.
Elementary Math
I have a strong math background through algebra. I have worked with students on all areas of fractions, problem solving, abstract reasoning skills and more. I have had math through calculus.
Elementary Science
I love science experiments! Especially when they can solidify a student's understanding of basic concepts.The human body is a very complicated machine. Studying other creatures of our planet is very useful in understanding how we function. When we study our world around us, we begin to understand how things function. This knowledge can be especially important to lead us towards making a much greener place to live. There are many interesting facets to the world of science!
English
The English language can be extremely challenging to master. There are so many exceptions to the language!
I can help with all aspects of English: grammar, vocabulary, spelling, reading, and other language arts skills. I can assess where your skill levels are and set a plan to approach this as a multidisciplinary subject. It doesn't have to be torture! We will work on skills that will have lifelong benefits.
ESL/ESOL
I have been an ESL teacher for many years and have worked with students from many cultures. This includes students who could not speak a word of English, to students just learning English and refining their skills. It is important to help a student to feel comfortable as they learn a language, and introduce reading along with the spoken word. In language acquisition, the writing becomes the last piece of the puzzle.
Language needs to be learned using all 5 senses. It is important that students experience this in physical ways: touching, hearing, tasting, seeing and smelling the things around them, as they relate to learning a language.
Government & Politics
What could be more interesting than the intricate workings of a political campaign? Especially the presidential election that we have just experienced. No matter where a person seems to fit on the political spectrum, it is very important to further your cause by understanding how the other groups operate. This holds true for understanding foreign governments and how their political systems function. The more we understand others, the better chance for peace and prosperity.
Grammar
Grammar is a subject that can make all the difference in where you will end up in life. If an employer has 2 job candidates in front of him, who is he more likely to hire to represent him and his company: one who has command of the English language, or one who does not? If 2 prospective students are vying for the same scholarship, and it comes down to an interview, who will most likely get that scholarship?
There are just some subjects that might not be the most interesting, but they might be crucial in your future. There are no short cuts to mastering grammar; it is labor intensive and repetitive.
Painting
I was a Fine Arts major in college. I specialized in drawing and painting. I work in oils, watercolors, and pastels. I continued my education, taking Master of Fine Arts classes, as well as studying with well-respected watercolorists in the Phoenix area. My pastels were accepted into The Montage Gallery in Tempe, where I have sold some pieces. Most recently, I have been accepted into a juried show of the Arizona Pastel Artists Association, of which I am a member in good standing. A portfolio of my work is available upon request.
Reading
My Mom was a librarian, so I still read a book a week. However, it is not so fun or easy for MANY people, including my husband!! He is now a success story. So are my students that I have worked with over the years.
There are MANY components that go into learning to read, and understanding what you have just read! I have a good size bag of techniques and tricks. Reading CAN be fun.. we can start by making reading an area that is not so painful!!
Thank you,
Dona
Study Skills
It is really difficult for some to get organized and prioritize what they need to do to get where they need to be, without wasting lots of time.
I can help the student to gather their materials, list what they need to do, decipher what needs to be done, and establish basic systems that the student can follow and internalize as they move forward in their education. This would include how to stay on task, how to decide what information is important, how to take notes, skills to help memorize information, and how to review essential skills and concepts.
World History
The more we understand other cultures and civilizations, the more we understand ourselves. It also helps us not to repeat what has been catastrophic throughout history. This is an ongoing process. It does not mean memorizing facts about various events; it is more about understanding how various groups of people lived their lives and interacted with others. This does not have to be a boring subject; if you begin by studying some famous people of a civilization, history then becomes alive!
Writing
Writing is the area of language that takes the longest to develop. It is usually the area where most people have all kinds of struggle: spelling, grammar, sentence structure, making your thoughts clear and concise, etc.
There are many ways to improve these skills. This does require work, but I can get you there. There are several years that my students have scored some of the top scores in the State of Arizona on the writing portion of the AIMs test.