Darlene: Alabama tutor

Certified Tutor

Do you remember your first day of learning a new language? I do! I vividly remember my first days in my Spanish classes in college and how intimidating it can be. My goal then was to become a Kindergarten teacher. I did graduate from Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ in 2002, with a Bachelor of Arts in English, a NJ Elementary Teaching Certification and a NJ Teacher of the Handicapped Certification. Little did I know, I would not end up a Kindergarten teacher but a special education inclusion teacher in a high school! For eight years I team-taught with many general education Spanish teachers, both Spanish I & II. I do love the language and can relate to having to learn Spanish from the ground up. I am not a native speaker! I feel my own experiences in learning Spanish enhance my tutoring in Spanish I & II.

In addition to teaching Spanish, I have taught Preschool through Grade 8 students in Language Arts and Mathematics at two different Kumon Centers in NJ. My own children have participated in the Kumon method of learning and I enjoyed my instructional time working with students in pre-reading strategies, phonics, reading comprehension, and the basics in mathematics (number sense, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions and pre-algebra concepts.) I believe as important as critical thinking in mathematics is, so is basic computation!

Besides practicum and student teaching in grades 2, 3 and 4, I also have some experience in the 6th grade curriculum. I was a personal aide (for the entire 6th grade year)and emergency certified teacher to a 6th grade student in Reading and Social Studies. We practiced many helpful study habits and he succeeded that year in earning A's in his studies!

Lastly, I taught English Literature at the high school level, grades 9-12. I have taught American Literature, World Literature, and British Literature. I am a Shakespeare lover and introduced my students to the Bard's fun world of craziness! I love using all modes of instructional materials! Hands-on learning, engaging discussion, consistent review activities and making learning FUN and rewarding are the hallmarks of my teaching strategies! Whatever the content are I choose to teach, I give it 150%. I would love the opportunity to help your student succeed in whatever elementary subject he/she is struggling in or in learning Spanish I or II. Besides enjoying the learning process myself, I also enjoy hiking, biking, cooking, being with my family, traveling, reading and playing with my dog!