Our Elementary Tutors

Brigid B

Teaching Style

I see the role of the educator as a pivotal element in not only academic success, but social and cultural success as well. Therefore my teaching skills often incorporate pockets of knowledge from various disciplines. I also believe that the role of the teacher can also mirror the role of the student, as both teacher and student can learn from each other. I believe that children should be given the necessary tools that foster intellectual curiosity, so as to sharpen creativity and independent thinking. My approach to teaching is not to just impart information, but to impart information in such a way that will lend for students to engage in questioning and realization of answers. Because after all, learning is discovery!

Experience Summary

My academic and professional histories champion my lack of formal teaching experience. Upon graduating from NC State with Psychology and Journalism degrees in December 2005, I was employed as an editorial and production assistant at a national consumer magazine; Child, in New York City. My roles were exhaustive of both skills I am trained in, and the quality of my writing and grammatical abilities improved greatly. I have been tutoring undergraduate students in writing and aiding with their writing assignments for roughly three years. Notwithstanding the fact that I currently am a research assistant at NCSU's social psychology stress lab, I am confident that my contribution to Advanced Learners' students will be par none.

Hebah H

Teaching Style

My main goal is to encourage independent thinking and analytical reasoning to augment their problem solving skills, thus encouraging them to not just memorize. I prompt them to question at every stage: “why?..how?” and satisfy their curiosity, instead of assuming the instructor is always right. My favorite approach is: “If you don’t have any questions, I have some for you”. This prompts classroom discussions which are very useful and has led to several intellectually stimulating questions/arguments that are not always easy to answer. The idea is to provide hints and “baby steps”, building on what they know, and lead them to the answer by making them think logically. The confidence they gain from this exercise is revealed when they tackle the “question and answers” after their group presentations!

Experience Summary

I have earned two degrees in chemistry; a BS degree in 2004 and a MS degree in 2005. Since then I have been instructing chemistry courses to undergraduates at Tanta University.These courses include Physical Chemistry, Gravimetric Analysis, Complex metric Analysis, Volumetric Analysis, Qualitative Inorganic Analysis, Organic Chemistry and Qualitative Biochemical Analysis.

Tamara T

Teaching Style

I believe teaching is communicating and reaching the child on their level. The key is to understand we all learn in different ways. Successful teachers reach out in several ways to ensure the child will succeed. My goal is to get individuals passionate about the power they can obtain through knowledge, and the success that will follow them when they work hard. The key to life is always working and trying harder. My goal will not only be to educate them in math and/or accounting, but also in strength and perseverance.

Experience Summary

I worked in the Accounting field while attending school to obtained my degree from USF. I am passionate about math, accounting, and education. I would often help my follow classmates, and my current career choice (internal auditor) aids as a consultant to the organization. My job is 80% communication and 20% knowledge to help follow co-workers and clients succeed. I believe I will bring to the tutoring session, the knowledge of the "real" world, work ethic, and patience to see each child succeed.

Dana D

Teaching Style

I believe in diversity and development. My experience of coming to this country as a Non-English speaker has taught me a lot about different learning styles that helped me learn the language quicker. I am very patient, easy-going, understanding, and determined. I believe that children are capable of learning if material is presented to them in a right style.

Experience Summary

As an eastern European native, my educational background was always strong and learning was always my number one priority. I have earned my bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, which has enabled me to gain an understanding in many areas of math and science. Furthermore, I have always loved creative writing and in 2001 at University of South Florida, I earned the Excellence in Writing Award. I previously worked as a preschool teacher where I introduced scientific and mathematical concepts to the students. I have peer tutored many fellow students in college and family members.

Andy A

Teaching Style

I am grateful that school was easy for me, but I also know that for many children the task of discovering, understanding, making sense of, and retaining information can be tough and may seem almost overwhelming. All children can learn and there is no better way to instill that desire in them, than to work one-on-one or in small groups. All subjects can be made interesting, and I feel I have a knack for making the "boring" material come alive with relevance and excitement.

Experience Summary

Upon graduating from Johns Hopkins with a degree in writing, I substitute taught full-time at the high school and the middle school levels in the small upstate New York town where I grew up. Since my days as a substitute teacher, I have worked as a freelance writer, Senior Editor at a major publishing company, Senior Copywriter at an ad agency, and attended grad school. Over the past 15 years, I have tutored a number of high school students primarily in English, social studies, paper-writing, and general test-taking strategies.

Carla C

Teaching Style

I believe each student has a unique way of learning, and that my job is to discover and support that learning style. Every writer has his or her own voice, and I work to empower writers to express their thoughts as clearly and powerfully as possible. My goal is not to impose information but to guide students in discovery, to support critical thinking and foster new perspectives. Writing is an intensely personal and creative act; I believe in providing a framework within which writing students can comfortably and confidently learn the strategies to speak easily on the page.

Experience Summary

I've spent most of my life helping people learn, starting as a peer tutor in high school! I began teaching professionally as a teaching assistant in college, and since then I've taught in a wide variety of settings, including government training programs, workplace and vocational education, university, high school and community college classes, and private language schools. As a published writer, I mentor and coach writing students in fiction, nonfiction and college composition, and I've designed and developed many classes and programs to support writing students of all levels. I was a tutor for three years at the International School of Languages in Beverly Hills, working with foreign students to improve their command of English. With a BA and MA in Russian studies and a minor in English and journalism, as well as certification in adult literacy, GED and basic education and a community college credential, I have a wide range of experience in language education and writing competency.

Janette J

Teaching Style

I firmly believe in Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences. Each and every child has the ability to excel, but the most gains can be made if a teacher is aware of each individual child's learning style. I always strive to find the way in which each child learns best and then develop my plan of action to deliver instruction in the way they will benefit most.

Experience Summary

As a graduate of the University of New Mexico I hold both a B.S in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Language Arts and a M.A in Elementary Education. I have been employed in the capacity of classroom teacher for the past 8 years. I have taught both Kindergarten and 3rd Grade. My endorsement area is language arts. I hold a level II K-8 teaching license.

Lori L

Teaching Style

I believe that students are wary of mathematics and statistics because they appear clinic and distant, with little to do with the “real” world. To educate I try to create dynamic and above all relevant “uses” for the lessons. My experiences have exposed me to different teaching styles and class formats and allowed me to develop a teaching philosophy that encompasses the best of all these methods. My philosophy is best described with reference to six primary concepts: 1. Knowledge conveyed in a relevant context 2. Interaction with each student and the material 3. Passion for teaching and the subject 4. Adaptability 5. Creativity in teaching methods and 6. Respect between the student and the teacher All students seek knowledge; it’s the teacher’s role to facilitate learning and guide them along the path. A successful lesson is one in which the student comes out seeing the world a little differently.

Experience Summary

During my education and career, the teaching of others has featured prominently in my personal goals and life objectives. While attending high school, I tutored fellow students professionally in subjects ranging from basic algebra to complex calculus. My undergraduate degree was in the field of Mathematics and Statistics with an additional biological statistics certificate and at present I am completing my Masters of Science in statistics. My understandings of these fields lead to my recruit by a number of professors and researchers to provide assistance and advisement on statistical analysis of their projects. In addition to assisting my professors, I was also selected to be a Graduate Teaching Assistant, and was also selected to conduct "stand alone" courses. I have a strong passion for these subjects and I believe my years of teaching experience have given me the insight, patience and ability to convey the complex world of mathematics and statistics to my students.