Hi there! My name is Chris. I graduated cum laude with a Bachelor's degree in History and a minor in Scientific Diving. I also have a Master's of Arts Degree in Teaching, with an endorsement in Social Studies, where I graduated summa cum laude. I am currently a full-time substitute in the Vancouver and Portland metro area, but I also taught an 11th grade U.S. history class full-time during my Master's program. I have experience as a college tutor leading both small (2-6 students) and large...
Hi there! My name is Chris. I graduated cum laude with a Bachelor's degree in History and a minor in Scientific Diving. I also have a Master's of Arts Degree in Teaching, with an endorsement in Social Studies, where I graduated summa cum laude. I am currently a full-time substitute in the Vancouver and Portland metro area, but I also taught an 11th grade U.S. history class full-time during my Master's program. I have experience as a college tutor leading both small (2-6 students) and large groups (10-25 students). As a substitute, I have taught a variety of subjects, primarily in 6th-12th grade classrooms, but I have experience working with students in elementary schools as well.
I have a lot of experience working with students one-on-one. I believe this is one of my strongest attributes. I am very approachable and have an ability to connect with a wide range of learning styles, age groups, and personality types. I excel at identifying problem areas and am innovative as how to find solutions to achieve success. I often start with identifying why a student is struggling with a particular assignment or subject and brainstorm how we can overcome that obstacle together. I see myself more as a facilitator and motivator. I strive to encourage students to believe in themselves. Just because something is difficult or confusing, doesn't mean one can't learn it. As a substitute, this is the #1 obstacle I consistently see. A lot of kids will shut down when they don't understand something. They may say things like, "This is too hard. Why do I need to know this? I'm already failing - what's the point?" I recognize it is easy to be hard on oneself when learning doesn't come easy. I truly believe all kids are capable, if provided the necessary tools, guidance and attention. I always tell my students, "Stick with it. You got this!" Of course, I modify my approach based on individual need, but this is the type of energy I bring to my tutor sessions. In my experience, students have been very receptive to this approach.
