I began my tutoring career ten years ago. I was working as a teacher's aide at
the time, in a special education classroom. One of the parents of a student
with Down Syndrome had asked if I would tutor her child after school. From
there, the "parent network" ran its course and soon I was tutoring every day
after school. I have worked with students of myriad backgrounds from autistic
spectrum disorder, to gifted and every one in between who just needed that extra
helping hand. I did this along with my job in the classroom for five years,
before I decided to go back to school to get my teaching credential and Master's
Degree in Education.
My personal philosophy, and thesis for my degree, is that every child has the
capacity to learn. In my opinion, the best way to teach a child is to find
their individual learning style, of which there are many. (Some rely more on
verbal/linguistics while others are more visual/spatial learners as an example.)
There are so many ways to teach a child and when that child is not up to speed
in an area, I usually assume there is probably a better style of teaching that
could enhance the learning experience. That is where I begin.
My background, as I said, is in teaching. Currently I am subbing in the
Vancouver and Camas School Districts. I have five years of experience as a
classroom aide and tutor and three years as a classroom teacher. I also have
two years experience as a Program Director of a before-and-after school
program. I have a grown son. I have worked with all age levels from K-12.
Every time I got "moved around" in the school system to a new age group I felt
sad, certain I had already found my favorite age group. Every year I found I
was wrong again. I relate to kids of all ages and appreciate the uniqueness of
what each group brings. I also find humor to be an important element in
tutoring, as in all aspects of life.
I would love to work with your student.
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