
Jennifer
Certified Tutor
I love seeing children's faces light up with the discovery of something new, especially when it's that "aha! moment" after a breakthrough in understanding or after achieving victory over a difficult challenge.
My experience as a licensed classroom teacher (I've taught in California, Oregon and Japan), along with my Mom experiences homeschooling and advocating for my special-needs son while living in New Zealand, has given me insight and skills that only the school of life can provide.
I've taught students from Kindergarten through high school along with adults in many different settings. I have specialized training in English-as-a-Second Language, and recently ran a public school district's ESL program (K-12). I have a strong interest in helping students to better leverage technology as a tool for writing supports, collaborative activities, improved communication, study support and work management.
My primary teaching focus and skills are in "digging in" and getting back to basics to find out why a student is struggling. Did they miss a core concept? Do they need more practice anchoring fundamental skills? Is there something socially, emotionally, or cognitively that is adding an extra layer of friction or challenge?
I then seek to reduce any friction that limits learning and work to help student automate core skills, learn key concepts and develop new ways of thinking which will help them to better retain new skills and information. I'm always considering how I can adapt my approach to bring about that golden "aha" moment.
I grew up in an educationally oriented family. My father was a school psychologist and my mother was a kindergarten and special ed teacher. At 15, I started teaching swimming lessons and taught Red Cross classes to adults. In college I managed a swimming pool and coached a swim team.
Over the next few years, I counseled suicide hot-line callers, counseled teens in group homes, and taught NGO development workshops for board members.
I graduated with a degree in social science and worked several years as a research analyst. My other non-teaching experience includes working in a finance department, doing software testing and development, and getting involved with the entrepreneurial community by participating in tech startups.
In New Zealand I completed a 1 year Certificate in Small Business Management. My 2 years in software testing gave me strong computer skills which are frequently called on to help the technically confused.
I'm known for my patient and gentle manner with students; however, I do have high standards and expect my students to stretch to the challenge.
I've learned that achievement over something that was once difficult builds confidence and is the best way to reduce anxiety and negative mindsets. My strategy is to set the bar just a little bit above what a student is confident about achieving so they develop a, "This may be hard, but not impossible" mindset. My goal is to guide students to love a challenge and to develop ever-greater levels of persistence and resiliency.
I look forward to the opportunity to work with you and your child.
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Undergraduate Degree: California State University-Sacramento - Bachelor in Arts, Education
Grandchildren! I don't have any yet, but most of the things I most love to do involve children and my boys are now grown up. I love crafting, homesteading, farming, gardening, cooking, woodworking, and photography. I love learning (and trying out) how things "used to be done" before modern conveniences, and I love hands-on teaching of all these things to others. I have an absolute love of nature and am constantly in awe of all the amazing things God has created for us to enjoy in this world. Even in hard times, we are all so blessed -- it's my prayer that we never get too busy or overloaded to stop and appreciate the beauty of the simple things in life.
- Adult ESL/ELL
- Adult Literacy
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- Art
- Art Hour
- Basic Computer Literacy
- Business
- CBEST - The California Basic Educational Skills Test
- CSET - California Subject Examinations for Teachers
- Elementary Reading and Phonics Class
- Elementary School English
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Science
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- ESL/ELL
- Executive Functioning
- High School Business
- High School English
- Kindergarten Readiness
- Late Elementary Reading Comprehension
- Learning Differences
- Mac Basic Computer Skills
- Math
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Writing
- Nutrition
- Other
- Pre-Reading Super Skills Class
- Professional Certifications
- Public Speaking
- Reading
- Reading Comprehension Class
- Reading Fundamentals: Phonics and Decoding
- Robust Reading Class
- Science
- Short Story Fairytales
- Special Education
- Spelling, Grammar, and Writing Skills Class
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Technology and Coding
- Writing