Our Elementary Tutors

Karissa K

Teaching Style

I love one-on-one tutoring because of the complete attention I can pay to the tutee’s specific needs and his or her learning style. My personality is encouraging, positive and patient, and that has served me well in building relationships with repeat tutees at the Writing Center over the past two years. To me, the primary role of a tutor is to explore ideas about the subject in a way that there is not time for in the classroom and also to ask tutees the questions they would not think to ask themselves about their ideas. I can help tutees explore the potential of their ideas and how to own the skills they already possess. My role is also to help the tutee expand his or her knowledge base and tools for future writing through examples, research and discussion.

Experience Summary

As a tutor at the University of Arizona Writing Center, I worked with undergraduate, graduate and international students on all aspects of the writing process. This encompassed higher and lower order concerns including brainstorming, outlining, drafting, formatting, thesis and topic sentence work, grammar and ESL concerns, research methods, and content. My tutees came from all majors including English, History, Business, and the sciences. I worked on everything from rhetorical analyses to technical writing for business to personal statements and research papers. I also spent two semesters in an online tutoring program for high school students to submit drafts of their college admissions essays for commentary. They could then make revisions and resubmit additional drafts for further critiquing. Additionally, as a Magna Cum Laude History graduate with a Political Science minor, I focused on American History and government and developed a passion for those topics I love to impart on others.

Desiree D

Teaching Style

As young minds are developing it is my desire to fulfill and enrich their potential. To teach is to be patient and to listen to the student. It is to be approachable and provide constructive feedback. My goal would be to determine the student’s weak points and to develop goals to strengthen their weak areas. Be patience and produce lesson plans to strengthen this weakness. Growing up I played several sports and practice was so essential to achieve greatness. This can apply to all facets of life. Work hard and anyone one can achieve. The student’s success would be a reflection of my progress and will always be a motivator.

Experience Summary

I am a progressive finance professional with over 10 years experience in the commercial banking industry. I have obtained a BS in business management and a MBA in finance. I have experience as a team player and have lead teams. I considered myself to motivate, innovative and have a good rapport with people. My strongest assets are math and computers. I spend my days formulating formulas and constructing reports on spreadsheets. I wish to pass on the wealth of knowledge to our future achievers. It would be a pleasure and my desire to tutor in elementary math and/or pre algebra. I pick these subjects because I had performed suitable doing my years as a student. I was a volunteer for the Junior Achievement program. I volunteer to teach an hour once a week to second graders for three months. I accomplished this for two years. It was a rewarding experience. The subject was structured by Junior Achievement to teach banking, government and the importance of people and places in our community.

Mary Kathleen M

Teaching Style

I believe that every person has the ability to be a 'good' writer. In academics there are rules that a writer must follow. It is important to teach the conventions of writing so that students can build a solid foundation. After a student knows the rules, they can transfer good writing to other aspects of life (Civic, Professional, Personal). In my experience, students come in with a rough draft and need some guidance on how to move forward. I have tutored in groups and individually, and in both situations I may keep students on track, but they are the ones who figure out what their strengths and weaknesses are and how to improve their overall composition

Experience Summary

I earned my Bachelors of Arts from the University of Florida in 2006 and soon after I started Graduate school at the University of South Florida. As a graduate student I have been a writing tutor at the college level. I first started tutoring at Saint Petersburg College in 2007. The students who came in for help were in a variety of courses, such as Creative Writing and Speech. Every person came in with frustration, but left with a sense of accomplishment. This summer I was a T.A. at the University of South Florida in Dr. Conner's Composition II course. This course integrated technology by operating on a Wiki and communicating through chats, blogs, emails, etc. I was able to stay an active participant by reading students' posts and joining conversations. Through my graduate courses I have improved my own writing skills. I am currently in a Composition course where we are creating rubrics and assessing writing of students at the University of South Florida. This course is made up of 6 students that collaborate with faculty and writing coordinators at the University to develop new rubrics.

Michelle M

Teaching Style

I value the learning styles of each individual student and regardless of subject matter, I emphasize developing study skills to enable the student to apply what he or she learns in every subject/course.

Experience Summary

In the last nine years, I have actively addressed the goals and available resources of diverse student populations. During college, I tutored through several organizations, including AVID, Hermanas Intimas, and the Ophelia Project. Later at San Francisco State University, I served as a Teaching Assistant for two semesters and two departments. Prior to these experiences, I have taught English, ESL, and EFL to native and non-native English speakers domestically as well as internationally. English was not my first language, and I use my own experiences with language and culture to communicate successfully with students from all backgrounds. Furthermore, I am very comfortable with online learning platforms as I have not only taken countless online courses but have also assisted professors in further developing and improving their online courses. I have experience with backend website support and have developed websites as well.

Kim K

Teaching Style

My teaching approach begins with the idea that economics is a way of thinking. My primary objective is to provide students with a set of tools that helps them attain academic success and growth, to build and expand their knowledge and critical thinking skills, and to develop as individuals. My approach encourages students to "learn by doing" through classroom activities, visual guides, interactive lessons, real world application and hypothetical situations. I also incorporate active learning through a lecture style that encourages student discussion. A good instructor motivates students to want to learn and retain the material. Stellar students benefit when instructors challenge them to move towards higher level applications of the material. Struggling students need someone who can see beyond their mistake and into their thought process. I strive to convince students they are developing valuable skills for their lives by regularly connecting the material to their everyday lives. My teaching techniques have improved with each experience I have endured. I continue to look for new ideas and technologies that can improve my teaching effectiveness. In the end, I want to share my passion for economics and learning, leaving them excited about using the skills in their own lives. My goal is to meet students where they are and take them where they need to go.

Experience Summary

I have been a passionate tutor since my high school years. I continued tutoring in undergraduate and graduate school in subject areas from chemistry to calculus. My strengths are being able to communicate concepts clearly and in a way students can relate to.

Katherine K

Teaching Style

Throughout my teaching experience I have encountered students of all ages and abilities, from high school students with learning differences to adult learners of ESL. I believe each student is unique and brings their own set of experiences and strengths to the material to be learned, necessitating an adaptable teaching style. I am experienced in the communicative approach and believe each students learns best through discovery and by utilizing their particular intelligence. I am patient, relaxed and treat each student with respect. I think students learn best when they are having fun and have a trusting relationship with their teacher.

Experience Summary

While working towards my bachelors degree in English (with a minor in Political Science), I worked as a substitute teacher in the public school system for a year and a half, in order to ascertain my affinity for many different levels and subjects. My writing and grammatical skills are excellent; in 2004 I was awarded First Place in Undergraduate Writing at the University of North Florida. My first professional teaching experience complemented my areas of expertise perfectly: I taught English as a Foreign Language to business professionals in Argentina for six months, using the communicative approach. During this time I learned much about South American politics and culture, as well as the Spanish language. Upon return I taught English to high school students for one year at a private school for students with learning disabilities and emotional/ behavioral problems. This summer, I have again taught international students at a Berlitz ESL program, ELS Language Center. Throughout the years I have also tutored and worked with students one on one many times, specifically with rudimentary reading and writing.

Dawn D

Teaching Style

I have a visual and hands on teaching style. I do believe that students learn better by doing labs and seeing demonstrations, not by just hearing lectures. My students thoroughly enjoy my demonstrations and labs. My goal is to do whatever it takes to ensure that my students are working to their maximum potential.

Experience Summary

I have 5 years experience as a Biology, Chemistry, and now, a Physical Science teacher on the high school and middle school levels. I have gained a valuable understanding about the needs of our young people. I believe that all students are capable of learning anything, some just have different learning styles. I have met with different students and tried (quite successfully) to gear my lessons to the needs of all students. In my classes, it is my goal to make sure that every student understands the lessons.

Saravana S

Teaching Style

While teaching, I constantly seek input from my students. I always try to make them feel comfortable in class, and to let them know that they are the key to the success of the class. I try to encourage them to participate very often, and welcome all their questions and comments. I usually have my students work in groups to discuss problems. I use small groups (of 3 people) because they take the least time to organize, and they are the easiest to adjust to for those who always work on their own. I also encourage them to get together to do math problems outside the classroom.

Experience Summary

I worked as a teaching assistant in Organic Chemistry and General Chemistry courses while I worked toward my own master’s degree at the University of South Dakota. This experience gave me the opportunity to transfer from online tutoring to classroom teaching and individual tutoring. The total experience has educated me with the ability to handle students based on their own style and teach them the subject in creative way.