Fun Facts

I have two sisters who were adopted from China.
I am the oldest of five.
I have lived in Rome, Italy.
I have worked as a barista with Starbucks.
I love to sing and play the piano.

About Me

I love working with children. I also love to learn and teach. I have felt called to teach since I was very young. I really enjoy working one-on-one or with small groups because I feel that I can really get to know the student better and the way that he or she learns best. I someday hope to teach more music and religion classes. I might teach English and Reading in another country. I'd also like to take graduate classes one day.

As a teacher, I have always encouraged parents and students to contact me ANY time they have questions or need clarification. I was available after school hours for extra help (I'm more of an afternoon person). I have been teaching piano lessons for many years, and I have tutored small groups of students and 3rd grade reading-comprehension/texas/fort-worth">reading comprehension. I like the idea of helping with test prep, too. I have more experience with large groups from teaching, but I'm excited to work more one-on-one!

I believe (much like Mary Poppins) that you find the fun in a task that must be done, and SNAP! The job becomes a game! :-) I love making chores and learning exciting and interesting. I like to find what interests the student and then use those interests to engage the student in the given subject. For instance, if the student loves sharks, then I find books on sharks, or create math word problems about sharks, etc. Even for older students, the idea is similar - I think we all enjoy learning more when we are motivated, engaged, and feel like progress is being made. It's so great not to just hear new information, but to actually have "aha" moments where you really "get it" on your own! I try a variety of strategies to help the student, exploring what will work best for his/her learning style. Repetition, organization, and self-discipline are key methods in academic progress. I like mixing in real-world applications along with book knowledge and internet/computer practice to keep things both interesting and challenging.