All of
Rhona’s current tutoring subjects are listed at the left. You
can read more about
Rhona’s qualifications in specific subjects below.
Algebra 1
Typically for most pre-teen students onwards, Algebra can prove daunting because it moves beyond mere computation and now involves a lot of critical thinking in translating word problems into equations that can be manipulated into workable formulas offering ranges of realistic solutions. Thus, as I work with any student in attaining higher fluency in Math (as the world's most universal language - everybody has to count, after all!) through solid Algebra literacy, I aim to close any learning and practice gaps that a conventional group classroom setting may not always address for individual learners, based on the person's individual dominant learning style (visual, auditory, tactile), to make Algebra more relevant to real-life usage (ex. money, time management) and fun.
ASVAB
I have been in the US Army National Guard since 2008 as a Part-Time Water Treatment Specialist in their Quartermaster Unit.
I passed with ASVAB myself with flying colors (92 out of the perfect score of 100) in June 2008, which is why I immediately qualified to serve in the higher-compensating Critical Skill role of Water Purification.
I have also been teaching various major test preparation classes for Adults (including The Uceda Institute's newest branch in Las Vegas for their GED & ASVAB class, primarily serving Immigrants and Late Life Learners going back to College or for Trade/Licensing Certification Requirements) as well as one-on-one tutoring for GED and ASVAB also for select clients in the Greater Los Angeles area.
Prior to my military vocation, I also passed with flying colors years ago the California Basic Educator Skills Test (CBEST) in 2002 to become a life-long Substitute Teacher for the USA's largest state. From this I have always been exercising my teaching & tutoring skills throughout CA & NV over the years through various public & private organizations.
This is why I come to any client fully experienced & resourceful not just with proven teaching skills, but also w/ great empathy about the real challenges one needs to overcome when taking any major standardized test :)
All that said, I look forward to serving more clients through Wyzant.com who are aiming to join the US Armed Forces and other major law enforcement & government agencies (including major city Police Departments, Border Patrol, Homeland Security, Citizenship, etc.), starting with doing one's very best in major tests such as the ASVAB.***
Career Development
Practically all of my jobs since my college graduation in 1999 involve managing and developing the Human Resources of any organization (non-profit, for-profit, government, etc.) - including recruitment, retention, and counseling personnel with ongoing training needed to adapt well to rapidly changing times. Thus, having been on both sides of the hiring table (whether as an applicant or as the hiring party), I have developed key insights on what makes an on-target Resume (which is not just a functional biodata, but should be a professional's custom marketing piece competitively justifying why they are best fits for a position), Interview Style (which is supposed to be a mutually insightful, solutions-oriented dialogue), and more.
CBEST
I earned my lifetime CBEST certification as a State of California multi-subject teacher in 2002, passing all my CBEST subjects on my first try, while I was still working and training as a tutor. Over the years, my CBEST certification has not only helped me in my as-needed work assisting public schools, libraries, and non-profits with their learning programs, but more importantly it also helped me start my own diverse multi-subject tutoring practice catering to K-12 students and even adult learners in both the public and private school setting. Thus, I would be more than happy to help any aspiring teacher earn his/her CBEST credential as a solid first step towards a meaningful teaching/tutoring vocation.
Elementary (K-6th)
A person's lifetime habits and values when it comes to quality multi-subject learning and work have their start in the K-6 years, and I come to your household armed with CBEST-certified skills, almost 2 decades of both classroom and one-on-one teaching experience in Asia, Europe, and North America, and customized tutoring according to the student's dominant learning style (visual, auditory, and/or tactile), personality, and character.
Given the flexibility of my freelance marketing/media/mentoring practice, I have been able to help many generations and ranges of students across ethnicities, socioeconomic class, and more, may it be for after-school weekday tutoring, weekend refresher/enrichment work, or even homeschooling.
Let's talk and text as soon so we can get to work!
Elementary Math
Elementary math is not just about mere computation alone, but more importantly it's also about understanding how to translate word problems into applicable equations and operations. Math is the world's most universal language, so as a tutor I teach the basics with the same creativity and enthusiasm as one would approach learning a new musical instrument or foreign language, while at the same time emphasizing how practical it truly is, for anything from money to cooking and more.
Elementary Science
I used to be a part of Mad Science (Radioactive Rhona) and have had to brush up on science for various work assignments, such as when I would help launch new USDA organic or LEED-certified products/services/brands through my freelance Marketing & Media practice, as well as through field work with the US military. Elementary Science will actually require the student (whether K-12 or adult) to apply multiple disciplines, such as Reading Comprehension, Math, and multi-sensory/tactile movements to best understand and use scientific concepts in real life. Thus, whether you plan to be a rocket scientist or just want to apply common sense to everyday chores or problems so you don't have to over-pay anyone to figure out at least basic logical outcomes to physical health, running your car, dealing with a new climate while traveling, cooking with new ingredients, and more, getting thoroughly drilled on scientific concepts and principles is always a plus!
Government & Politics
I have had the privilege of learning up close and participating in the government and political affairs of more than one country i.e. my native Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia, having been a Far Easter Economic Review Review-In-Education Scholar during my college years and later on working as a Public Opinion Pollster for political organizations; my adopted home country of the USA, where as a TV producer and soldier, I have been thoroughly exposed to both the civilian and military sides of governance; and even witnessing the European Union Parliamentary elections during my cultural exchange program stint to the Republic of Ireland, so coupling this engaging lifetime practical experience with the academic foundations I got as a Development Studies graduate (double-majoring in Sociology and Economics), I aim to make any serious student more grounded in understanding Government and Politics as a truly interactive subject.
ISEE
A child's character, lifetime work ethic, and even quality friendships are molded not necessarily in college, but at the K-12 level, which is why for families who fortunately have the means and foresight to do so, investing in placing your children in ISEE-accredited schools is an added edge. I am a certified teacher who happens to be a product of world-class private schools myself (as well as being a stepmom to children who attend a wide range of them). I have helped many families over the years prepare their children not only for the ISEE, but also for the unique demands and challenges of quality private schools like Campbell Hall, Army and Navy Academy, and the like. I thus look forward to getting to know your children and work with your family to strategically prepare them for the well-rounded education ISEE-accredited schools have to offer.
Microsoft Word
For someone like me who has relatively awful handwriting (thanks to past carpal tunnel syndrome issues) yet still has to effectively and efficiently use Word Processing to get work competitively done in my freelance Marketing and Media career, I have learned over time to make the most out of MS Word without injuring myself further, so I am open to helping others out there who are not as familiar or comfortable with MS Word to make the most out of it too.
Prealgebra
Pre-Algebra competency applies not just to middle schoolers, but even to teens and adults looking to move on in academic and professional lives as they have to be better armed to translate real life word problems into workable equations and solutions, so I am here to help make it fun and effective for anyone.
Reading
I learned first hand to be a Reading tutor specifically for adults when I volunteered at the Pasadena Public Library years ago, and over time I have also extended my one-on-one reading tutoring practice to children, so this way anyone will not have to be left out or left behind in reading literacy that is crucial to academics, work, and quality of life enjoyment. I am aware that those who struggle with reading (especially in the at times confusing sight word-ridden English language) need discreet help, since our fast-paced multi-media society may at times tend to not have the patience or understanding with those who still need some extra reading help, so consider me your trusted effective and efficient reading tutor so you won't have to feel odd or frustrated at all in being a better and happier reader.
Religion
I was educated for 18 years in liberal Roman Catholic schools under the Augustinian and Jesuit orders (learning about every Worship, Moral, and Doctrine aspect of the Roman Catholic Church even beyond Vatican II encyclicals) while at the same time being active as a Sunday School student and teacher in the Presbyterian Church (maximizing my knowledge of various major Protestant and evangelical sects in the Worldwide Council of Churches based in Geneva, Switzerland), and had even served as a Church Contact Coordinator for an international non-denominational Christian non-profit (TeachOverseas.Org), and through my personal & professional life have been exposed thoroughly to other major world religions, such as Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Animism, etc., such as for example through my continuing volunteer work as an Arts Council President at California's Pacific Asia Museum (one of only 4 North American institutions solely devoted of Asian and Pacific Islander culture), so I am eager to share with others who have never had a Religion or Theology class in their life more academic and intuitive insight into matters of different confessions of faith.
Spelling
The first academic competition I ever won was way back in 2nd grade when I won my school's spelling bee, taking on the many challenging English sight words around. Over the years, I have further cultivated my spelling skills by extensive multi-disciplinary reading and constantly applying these skills to my diverse career in Marketing, Media, and Education - fields where misspellings are obviously never tolerated. Practicing proper spelling signifies that a student or professional has the maturity and discipline to express oneself and understand other's written work in clear and concise context, so I look forward to working with motivated students who need and want to cultivate their spelling skills, so one never needs to be at the mercy of flawed machine-driven spell check alone.
Study Skills
I have a lifetime CBEST Certification as a K-12 Substitute Teacher. Studying - the ability to meaningfully process, for long-term memory use (including, but not limited to: standardized academic or professional certification testing; preparing for major interviews; transitioning into new careers or organizational cultures; etc.), large quantities of complex layers of qualitative information within limited amounts of time, space, and other resources - is a skill that not only applies to K-12 or college/university students, but also to working adults who have to competitively keep up with the rapidly changing times, in terms of constantly upgraded skills and knowledge needed to stay relevant and ahead in one's industry. Most individuals have a dominant learning style (visual, auditory, and/or tactile) and effective studying involves recognizing one's dominant learning style and other environmental factors first, so one can creatively sustain the studying process even under pressure and distractions. Today's wide range of mobile on-demand information technology plus old-school brick-and-mortar studying tools and methods can be customized for any person to learn at even paces as needed, so I look forward to helping any motivated learner upgrade and adapt their study skills as needed.
World History
I have learned and even in my own way participated in World History both inside and outside the classroom on three continents (Asia, Europe, North America) all my life, and have always made it fun for my one-on-one students using my proven story-telling skills as a Marketing and Media producer, so feel free to call on me to fill in the gaps and help you express your own critical thoughts on World History in very effective ways!
Writing
Writing in the English language for either creative or technical purposes can be daunting for anyone, may they be home-grown Americans or ESL learners, given the evolving rules behind such (ex. MLA, APA) and the growth of information technology and social media that has its own emerging protocols and mores that may prove confusing. Thus, as someone who is a Marketing and Media professional of proven cross-cultural and multi-industry competency, I am here to help anyone make writing less of a dreaded chore, and more of a fun worthwhile task that comes with everyday learning and life.