Tara O. - Tutor in Arvada, CO (80004)

I am currently working as a substitute teacher. I received my Colorado Teacher License in June of 2009. I chose to become a teacher after completing my Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Western State College in Gunnison, CO. I have always loved working with children and believe I have found the best career that I could hope for! I have spent time, through my licensing program, in a 2nd grade, two 4th grade, and a Kindergarten classroom. I have worked with all of the students in the classrooms to see that they are learning and understanding the materials that they are being taught. I love the one-on-one time that I spend with my students, giving them that extra little help that they need. I am a very patient person and am willing to give my students the time they need to think through my questions to come to the answers on their own. I also believe that, regardless of any trouble the child may have (learning disabilities, behavior problems, or trouble with the concepts) EVERY child is capable of learning and it is my job to see that they have what they need to do so. Sometimes that means that a student needs more focused, one-on-one or small group instruction and that is where I see the greatest benefit of tutoring. I love children and seeing the light come on in their eyes when they grasp the concept that we are working on.

elementary (k-6th)

I received my Colorado Teacher License in July of 2009. I did my student teaching in a 4th grade classroom and was responsible for all the duties in a classroom. I enjoyed working in the classroom very much and felt that my students learned a great deal about the subjects that I taught. I have also worked with kindergarten and 2nd grade classrooms part time. I believe that all students are capable of learning, some just need a little more focused attention that others.

softball

I played tee-ball, baseball, and softball for 12 years as a child. After leaving for college I also played on a recreational slow pitch team with several friends each summer for 4 summers. Upon returning home I assisted in coaching a Lakewood girls team (7/8, 8/9) for 2 years until I moved to Arvada and went back to school. Since that time I have gotten married and now have a 1 year old son which prevents me from doing any coaching for a few more years. I do want to begin coaching again when my son is old enough to go with me and not need constant supervision. When I was playing I was a catcher and outfielder. I also attended several camps to improve on my skills in those positions. I am a great fan of the sport and enjoy watching as well as teaching girls how to play. I worked with my team specifically in the areas on fielding drills (out and in), batting, and catching. I have a couple of schools and parks close to my house that would provide a location for practice. I also feel that the ability to play softball is as much about mental education as it is about physical practice. Some of the time will be spent reviewing plays, theories, and concepts to learn the ideas behind what we will be doing.