Darla

Certified Tutor

I attended the University of Toledo where I received a Master of Education in Early Childhood and Elementary Education; a Master of Education in Higher Education; and an Education Specialist Degree in Curriculum and Instruction! I am a life-long learner who loves people of all ages and from all backgrounds. Simply put, I love people!! Teaching is my calling and passion. I make sure that my students whether they are children, adults, or in between feel safe and nurtured. I have taught at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary level. I have taught and tutored children and adults. I am the author of three books and am currently working on my fourth!

My family and friends call me "Smiley," because I am always smiling. I grew up in Ohio, but I now reside in NYC. I absolutely love it. My hobbies include but are not limited to making people laugh, singing off key, watching soccer, basketball, traveling, visiting amusement parks, roller skating, meeting new people, dancing, cooking, reading, writing, eating spicy foods, and designing websites. I also love to listen to jazz and planting flowers.

My favorite subjects to teach/tutor are reading comprehension, phonics/grammar, writing, spelling, vocabulary, fluency. I have taught and tutored small children, teenagers, adults, etc. So if you are struggling in any of these areas or just need additional assistance, I am your person.

I tend to follow Howard Gardner's Theory on Multiple Intelligences. I do not believe that everyone learns the same way. So, I tend to adapt my teaching/tutoring style to my students' learning style. For example, if my student loves music, then I use music to tutor or teach. If my student loves art, then I incorporate art into the lesson plan. I have differentiated instruction that was developmentally appropriate for everyone from my elementary school-age students all the way to my college students. In other words, when I tutor/teach, I make sure that my students are engaged in the lesson and have fun while they are learning. I do not have a one-size-fits-all approach to tutoring or teaching. I have been an educator and a tutor for over ten years and cannot see myself doing anything else. I was born to do this.