Whether it's college application essays or basic grammar, ACT reading or phonics, I love tutoring. I have taught or tutored in many different arenas, including high school teaching and tutoring, summer camps, K-8 after-school programs, and caring for my elementary- and toddler-aged nieces and nephew.
For the last two and one-half years, I taught high school government, law, economics, U.S. history, philosophy, and ACT reading. My high school students' ability levels ranged from fifth grade level reading to high school level honors. My eighty juniors all had to pass a difficult test on the U.S. constitution in order to graduate, and they all passed. One student in my law class had a one-on-one paraprofessional in every class but his electives, and law was unfortunately considered an elective. I met with him once each week after school to give him the one-on-one tutoring he needed for law.
As a high school teacher, I was known as the smiley, silly, but strict teacher with high expectations for my students. Students who had the option to take additional courses with me after taking one class with me did so. I believe that every student has the capacity to succeed academically, but that students learn in different ways and must have the opportunities to learn via the methods that work best for them. Whether you learn best through visuals, hearing, touching objects, creating art, reading, or writing, I will adapt my method so that you can succeed in the subject we study.
As a camp counselor, I nurtured my campers, but I also taught them responsibility and ensured their safety. As a specialty counselor who taught drama and directed plays, I was an extra in the cabin of twelve-year-old girls where I lived. This meant that the two other counselors living in the cabin focused on caring for the girls. I cared about the girls in my cabin, and, therefore, I helped maintain order and teach them responsibility in addition to having fun with them. Outside the cabin, whether I was teaching five to fourteen-year-olds acting exercises, playing theater games, or directing them in the camp plays, we had fun, but they learned something in a safe environment.
Finally, I spend a fair amount of time with my nieces and nephew, and they have often asked me if I can teach at their school. As honest as kids are, my nieces and nephew apparently think I am good enough to spend five days per week with them. That, I view as the ultimate compliment.
back to top