I received my Master of Education degree with a major in Curriculum and Instruction. I have been a certified teacher for 30 years and there is nothing more rewarding then watching that "A-ha!" moment from my students. These moments happen by building trust, having patience, and even putting in a little sense of humor when needed. I have tutored all elementary subjects, reading, and writing. My favorite subjects to tutor are writing, reading, and math. I have always excelled in these myself and am very comfortable helping others to do well in these areas also. My passion for teaching goes all the way back to my childhood. My parents knew right away that I would be a teacher by the way I interacted with others. When someone needed help, I didn't do it for them, I guided them to explore and experiment on their own to achieve the goal. To this day, I am still helping people/students in the same way. I encourage students to think outside of the box and then take pride of what they have just accomplished. This helps them build the confidence they need to prepare for the next level of learning. My philosophy of education is built upon my love for and experience in teaching. If I were asked to describe myself in as few words as possible, it would be firm, but loving. I believe in creating a safe environment where students have boundaries, yet are free to share, explore, experiment, and ask questions. Each student's experiential background plays a vital role in my teaching. Consistently seeking feedback before, during, and after lessons to check my students' level of understanding gives me the direction needed to continue teaching them successfully. In areas where students may lose focus, I prepare creative techniques or tactics to help make the important aspect of each lesson memorable and enjoyable as possible. Although I have stated what I do as a teacher, my philosophy is deeply embedded within my practices. These examples may sound like theories, but they have been my faithful, tried and true practices that make me a successful teacher.

When I'm not teaching/tutoring, I might be caught camping, traveling, working on my blog, making homemade food and arts/crafts, riding my e-bike, or just curling up with a really good book!