I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself, and give you some details about how we will be working together this school year. My name is Stacie Nightingale-Martz. I earned my BA in English from Mount Holyoke College, and both my Secondary Teaching Certificate and Master of Arts in Teaching Degree from Seattle Pacific University. I have taught both 6th Grade Humanities and 7th Grade Advanced Humanities in the Issaquah School District. I have also spent five years with Sylvan Learning Center, and two summers teaching a reading skills program for the Institute of Reading Development through Gonzaga University. My husband and I moved to Spokane three years ago, and I have been enjoying having four seasons and much more sunshine! I looking forward to working closely with each of you to ensure that your children excel to the best of their ability this year.
As a teacher, I feel it is my job to guide my students on the path to knowledge through the use of critical thinking; and to teach them how to process information in their own individualized way. My tutoring sessions are an active place of discussions, questions, and debates. We will focus on learning about reading, writing, and communication or whatever other subject areas are needed, and one of my priorities is to make learning both fun and applicable to real life. I have experience with tutoring in all subject areas - reading, writing, phonics, spelling, history, study habits, organization, SAT Verbal, WASL, etc. I understand that each child learns in his or her own way, and some will need extra time and attention from me to master skills that may come easily to others. For that reason, I am available for extra help sessions both before and after school. I encourage my students to ask for extra help even if they aren’t sure they need it – when we begin working through things together, it makes them more comfortable and confident working independently in the long run. During my five years with Sylvan Learning Center, I learned several unique ways to work one on one with students of varying abilities, and to present material so it is accessible to all learning styles. I believe it is essential to build relationships based on mutual respect and trust with both my students and their parents to foster the healthiest and most productive learning environment.
Again, I look forward to working with all of you and your children to make this a fun and successful school year. My philosophy of teaching and education is the foundation of why I am a teacher, and I believe being a teacher is about morals, character, and integrity, and the pivotal nature of those ideals in the learning process.