Reene: Whittier tutor
Certified Tutor
I have been in education most of my adult life. I taught environmental education for 4 years before going back to get my Master's in Education from St Thomas University in St Paul, MN. My Master's was broad-based education with a focus on secondary science education and curriculum development for gifted and talented youth. I taught Environmental Science, Earth Science, and Intro Chemistry in Minnesota for 7 years. My husband and I moved to Madison, WI (Mount Horeb, actually) in 1989 and started a family. We had 4 children in 5 years, so my focus in Education turned from the Sciences to Early Childhood education. I started a private, nationally accredited preschool in Mount Horeb for 92 children. After seven years, I sold the school and dabbled in education as a substitute teacher. For the next 12 years, I mainly set up and directed preschool programs for independent owners.
I moved to Saint Paul, MN to set up one last school. Now I am teaching Upper School Science at a private school in Minneapolis. I teach Biology, Environmental and Physical Science to 9th through 12th graders. I love my job but miss the one-on-one tutoring that I did in Madison, WI.
My approach to education is holistic, incorporating all learning styles into my approach. I love to teach - I love to learn - I love to watch students progress in a positive environment that increases their lifelong love of learning.
I have traveled extensively, like nearly all outdoor activities from kayaking to gardening. Reading is a way of life, I can't imagine a day without a good read! I adore my 4 children and am delighted to spend time with them when possible. And I have the sweetest (though perhaps the noisiest) 2 shitzus on the planet!
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Undergraduate Degree: Winona State University - Bachelors, Biology Environmental Science
Graduate Degree: University of St Thomas - Masters, Education
Anything outdoors: gardening, biking, rollerblading, kayaking, paddle boarding. Reading, pottery, exercise, time with friends and family.
- Arithmetic
- Astronomy
- College English
- Earth Science
- Ecology
- Elementary Math
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Environmental Science
- Essay Editing
- Executive Functioning
- Gifted
- High School Chemistry
- High School English
- Homework Support
- Learning Differences
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Science
- Other
- Physical Science
- Science
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Summer
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
Teaching is a way of life for me - as is learning. For me, teaching is discovering and utilizing the best learning style or styles for each student and GUIDING them as they advance in their studies.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would want to get a baseline of where the student is at, where they hope to be, and the types of stumbling blocks they generally encounter. All done in a way, of course, that helps us to start to know one another as we proceed together on our journey!
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I believe a good teacher is a guide and an "explorer" of sorts. A guide offers direction and support, allowing a student to think and problem-solve for him or herself. An explorer helps each student uncover and utilize his or her strengths and learning styles. Both help a student reach a pre-determined outcome, and with each success, a student becomes more and more comfortable with their own abilities and thought processes.