My BA in Italian and Linguistics have allowed me to teach both abroad and in the NYC public school system. I have taught and tutored Italian, English, ESL, study strategies, Special Education, and HS content area classes. I hold MS degrees in Education, Special Education, and in teaching English to speakers of other languages. I am certified in these areas in New York State. I have extensive tutoring experience since my college days, and have helped students in various subjects and capacities including the above-mentioned, English grammar, the writing process, pronunciation, literature, US history, reading enhancement, SAT preparation, as well as exams in specialized areas (TESOL, medical, nursing, technology, law, music, etc.).
Curriculum must be made relevant to students' lives, integrated with critical thinking skills, and presented through diverse instructional tasks which stimulate all learning styles. Teaching strategies make all the difference in the world. While knowledge transfer is the ultimate objective of a lesson, it should not be the primary approach. Learners must actively construct their own knowledge from many sources and perspectives presented. I believe in presenting ideas, issues and events through a whole-part-whole approach--a key to long-term awareness and true understanding.
At any level, in any subject, students must have meaningful opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of learned concepts. Any lesson should end with reflection, "How does this affect me here and now?" Students must be able to voice opinions, be subjective, critically analyze and draw their own conclusions. Thus, providing the connection between gaining knowledge and using the knowledge gained in the real-world.