Our Tutors

Brittany B

Teaching Style

I love teaching children, seeing them learn and discover things for the first time. I also love the challenge of finding different and creative ways to communicate information so that each student can be engaged in a subject and understand the material. I have found that being patient and consistent, expressing clear expectations, and providing immediate and appropriate feedback creates a positive learning environment for academic achievement. It is my desire to provide children with an enriching, memorable learning experience that will teach them not only facts and information, but critical thinking skills and real life applications for real life success.

Experience Summary

After volunteering and instructing summer literacy classes in Clearwater, Florida, I discovered my passion for teaching and children. I pursued an education degree at the University of Florida, where I earned my bachelors in 2009 and finished a masters with an emphasis in literacy and an ESOL endorsement in 2010. I also completed several school placements throughout the program, concentrating in kindergarten, third, and fifth grades. I recently accepted a job teaching in a charter school in Philadelphia. I enjoy working with children of all ages, especially targeting struggling early readers.

Katherine K

Teaching Style

My passion is learning and my hope is to inspire in my students a genuine love of learning and to help them gain the skills necessary to become lifelong, independent learners. I believe all children can learn in an atmosphere that is encouraging, supportive and structured in such a way as to challenge without discouraging. I believe in authentic learning and in teaching through discovery. I have acquired many different techniques and tools over the years and have learned that there is no one style of teaching that fits all. One reason I enjoy tutoring is that I can take the time to truly know the student and to help them discover which tools work best for them. I strive to make a difference in each of my student's lives.

Experience Summary

I have been actively involved in the field of education for 26 years as a high school English teacher, an elementary reading teacher, and as a school librarian. My teaching career has been varied, including four years working in inner city public schools, 17 years in an exclusive private college preparatory school, and three years as the Director of library services for youth at risk. I graduated summa cum laude and am a member of Phi Beta Kappa with degrees in English, History, Secondary Education and Library Science and have minors in classical literature, romance languages and philosophy. I am a certified Reading Specialist and have trained with the LindaMood Bell reading program. I have worked as a newspaper reporter and done freelance editing and research for local authors. Over the years I have tutored students from elementary school to graduate school in English, history, research, study skills, composition and reading.

Kristin K

Teaching Style

I enjoy tutoring and working with students. I feel that I am a friendly, patient, and calm tutor. I put students at ease, help them to feel comfortable, and let them know they can ask questions. I can explain things in an informal, easy-to-understand manner, which is especially helpful for students who have trouble in school. My flexible teaching style helps me adapt and customize tutoring sessions to each individual student because learning is not one size fits all. I like to find things that the student understands and/or can relate to in order to explain and explore difficult concepts and topics.

Experience Summary

In addition to tutoring during high school, I have worked at an independent local tutoring company and at the local Huntington Learning Center since I've graduated college. As an English major, avid reader, and proficient writer, my specialty is English and SAT Verbal, but I can also tutor in other subjects. I've helped younger students with their homework and studying in subjects such as 8th grade science, 5th grade math (for a student in a Spanish immersion program), middle school and high school history/social studies and many others. Currently, I'm studying SAT math in order to be more adept at tutoring in various mathematics.

Shelly S

Teaching Style

Because science is a "hands-on" subject, I feel it is extremely important to use demonstrations, examples that are relevant to every-day life, experiments and anything else that will help students understand the world around them. I have been told that I have an "out-of-the-box" approach to learning, but have found it to be successful with the majority of students. Classroom discussions are utilized more often then lectures, because when a student plays an active role in their education, they learn more.

Experience Summary

Over the past 12 years, I have worked in both the private and public sectors of the education community. I have taught grades 7-12 in all areas of science. I have also been the director of a learning center, where I started as a tutor. The years of experience have taught me a great deal about children of all ages and abilities. With each new year, I learn something new about myself and my style.

Christine C

Teaching Style

It is a firm belief of mine that every child can learn and succeed, they just need the motivation and positive environment to do so. With that said, I strive to create a learning-rich environment where students are encouraged to ask questions and find answers. I also like to encourage my students to try their hardest and to not be discouraged by challenging material. In addition, I realize that many students do not receive encouragement or learning opportunities at home, so I try to compensate for that by filling the day with multiple academic opportunities and challenges and positive relationships and encouragement. I have a medium control approach where I allow the children's inner motivation to steer the way instead of my external direction. It is my hope that I positively impact each and every child that I come into contact with.

Experience Summary

I am currently an elementary education major at the University of Florida. I will graduate in May 2009 and then stay an additional year for graduate school. In all of my classes, I have been taught a variety of information to use when working with children. Because I am in the ProTeach Program, I have been given a large magnitude of opportunities to work with children all over the Gainesville area from a variety of backgrounds. I have worked in a rural 3rd grade classroom and an urban 3rd and 4th grade classroom. I have also worked at a day care center in Gainesville. I have been a tutor for the Bright Futures Program for a little girl at risk in the second grade. Back home in Jacksonville, I was a private teacher for a 4th grade girl that was home schooled year around.

Kristin K

Teaching Style

I enjoy tutoring and working with students. I feel that I am a friendly, patient, and calm tutor. I put students at ease, help them to feel comfortable, and let them know they can ask questions. I can explain things in an informal, easy-to-understand manner, which is especially helpful for students who have trouble in school. My flexible teaching style helps me adapt and customize tutoring sessions to each individual student because learning is not one size fits all. I like to find things that the student understands and/or can relate to in order to explain and explore difficult concepts and topics.

Experience Summary

In addition to tutoring during high school, I have worked at an independent local tutoring company and at the local Huntington Learning Center since I've graduated college. As an English major, avid reader, and proficient writer, my specialty is English and SAT Verbal, but I can also tutor in other subjects. I've helped younger students with their homework and studying in subjects such as 8th grade science, 5th grade math (for a student in a Spanish immersion program), middle school and high school history/social studies and many others. Currently, I'm studying SAT math in order to be more adept at tutoring in various mathematics.

Andrew A

Teaching Style

Although my formal teaching tenor is fairly short, starting in high school I often found myself in a teaching role while studying with peers. My teaching style relies heavily on starting very hands-on and transitioning the student into independence. I find it’s very helpful for the student and teacher as well, to make mistakes while doing a problem. When initially explaining a problem, students will frequently be too shy to tell you that they don't understand a concept. Often the best way to coax questions out of students involves them doing problems on their own. Building off of that, I am then able to help construct strategies to highlight their strengths in problem solving and improve on their weaknesses.

Experience Summary

While earning my BS in Chemical Engineering at UC Davis, I became interested in the atmospheric sciences which lead me to graduate school at Harvard University studying Atmospheric Chemistry. At Harvard I was the head Teaching Fellow for an upper division class in atmospheric chemistry. Since graduating last June with an ME, I have picked up tutoring in Los Angeles and currently have one student doing non-calculus based physics. Through my education I have gained extensive experience in mathematics through the calculus level, chemistry and chemical physics, and Newtonian physics.

Nova N

Teaching Style

I love seeing students succeed. I am an excellent teacher because I really care, therefore I put in extra effort to planning and making lessons effective. When possible, I use materials that match student interests. I foster an emotionally safe learning environment so that students feel comfortable. I keep my interactions with students very positive. I believe that emphasizing what a student does right works better than focusing on mistakes.

Experience Summary

I am passionate about helping students learn. My experience includes: • 2 years as a Reading teacher and 2 years as an ESOL teacher. • 8 years as a tutor. • 2 years as a manager and supervisor. • 10 years in technology and business systems I have a Master’s degree in Language Education, and I hold several Florida teaching certifications including Reading Endorsement. I have tutored elementary, middle and high school students, as well as adults. Subjects tutored include Reading and English.