Sai-ya

Certified Tutor

I love children and children tend to love me. I have years of experience working with kids of all ages as a teacher, a social worker, and a psychotherapist. I understand the motivational and self-confidence issues that interrupt many children's learning, and work to build a solid, trusting relationship with my students so they can feel comfortable acknowledging their mistakes and the places where they need extra attention without feeling ashamed. I operate on a strengths-based, praise-heavy teaching style, and make my students feel like stars (because they are)! I also am trained in mindfulness-based techniques to help children with any anxiety or behavioral issues that get in the way of learning.

I have a Master's degree from the University of Southern California (USC), where I graduated as a Dean's Scholar with a 3.98 GPA. Before that, I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of California in Irvine. I recently returned from 8 months of teaching English and Math to elementary-school students in Ecuador, and currently work in K-3 classrooms as a literacy specialist at a public elementary school in Santa Rosa. I teach children to read and write, which is such an essential skill!

When I'm not teaching kids or traversing the globe, you can find me in a yoga class, reading a fantastic novel under a big tree, tending to my vegetable garden, or having a latte with my grandma.