I was an education major when I began college back in 1986. After serving in the U.S. Navy and working with technology while serving, I changed my major to Computer Information Systems. I obtained a B.S. in that field and worked as a Data Analyst, Technical Support Specialist, and Web Design Instructor. I am currently an Operations Analyst or Database Report Writer. In 2009, I became a Microsoft Certified Professional or MCP from the Advanced Technology Group in Sandy Springs, GA. I always found myself teaching college peers and friends how to use various software programs and how to create web pages. Teaching is my calling. Also, I am an advanced user of Microsoft -MS- Office Suite, which includes MS Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Publisher.
After working in the technology arena for several years, the economy changed and I began working as a substitute teacher for 1 1/2 years. I also worked as a first grade teacher for 2 years as I studied Early Childhood Education in a graduate program at Wesleyan College in Macon, GA via GATAPP. I completed all requirements except for 3 classes to become a fully certified teacher. That includes passing the Praxis I and the Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators (GACE) Early Childhood Education - Content Knowledge Exam, which makes me a highly qualified teacher for K-12.
Also, in June 2008, I was the recipient of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators'-PAGE Award for Outstanding Member for the Bibb County region. The award was given, in Atlanta, GA, to members who were politically involved in the educational process for the state of Georgia. I attended sessions at the Georgia State Capitol to participate in the listening to and debating of laws that were being implemented that affected teachers, students, and the teaching process for the state of Georgia. I also attended other relevant meetings and events that PAGE organized.
While teaching first grade, in 2007, I began doing private in-home tutoring. I taught students from K-12 in their homes, one-on-one, and loved the experience. I used math manipulatives, worksheets, online websites, textbooks, various computer programs and anything necessary to not only instruct and guide, but also to bring the lesson to life for the student. For example:
I was teaching a middle school student about circumference, diameter, radius, and using pi (or 3.14). My student had to measure circular objects, so I had him find objects around his household that were round. He collected canned goods, pot tops, hair products, bowls, etc. to measure various circles and apply a particular formula. We both enjoyed the lesson and he was able to apply his math lesson to real life which helped him to understand how relevant math really was to his daily life. It also made his lesson fun and easy.
Likewise, I recently worked with a third grader on math. We used various colorful math manipulatives. We categorized objects by color and type, we used number tiles to perform counting by 10's and to find missing numbers, we used colored counters to form patterns and to determine what comes next in a pattern. The student had fun working and made 100 on everything he did. He told me that his goal was to always make 100.
When the lesson was over his mother met with the director of the center and they were going over his lesson for the day. The director came to me to see what he had worked on for the day. She thought it was math, but the student told her that he did not work on math with me for the hour that we worked. I told her that it was math. She checked his lesson in his binder and found that it was math. She and the mother came to the conclusion that I had made the lesson so enjoyable and fun for him that he did not realize that he was doing math. His mother was very pleased and wants me to work with him regularly.
I also privately tutor adult students in their homes; helping them with college level algebra, research papers, resume writing, job research, computer training, and basics of language arts and math. One of my college students recently graduated from film school and insisted that I must attend her graduation. She labels herself as my protege. When I began tutoring her, she told me that she never thought that she could be successful as a student. I told her that the power of success was for her to choose. If she studied hard and put everything into her education she would be a success in college. By the time of her graduation, she became the "Most Improved Student" in her June 2011 class.
Currently, I work part-time as a technology - various aspects;- language arts; reading; and math tutor.
I have considered working overseas to teach English as a second language, but I realize that there is more of a need to continue to work with both youth and adults students in America so that I can be instrumental in increasing their learning levels and spark intellectual interest in the hearts and minds of students right here at home.
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