Shelby
Certified Tutor
I have 20 years of experience in education, and have a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and a B.A. in Elementary Education; I am a proud graduate of Clemson University.
I have experience teaching a wide range of students and subjects and have taught English as a second language in Seoul, South Korea, high school Spanish, 7th and 8th grade science and social studies, and have spent the majority of my career teaching primary grades K-6. My passion; primary career focus is working with teachers and at-risk students, as a Literacy Coach in an urban school district, to increase literacy rates. Frederick Douglass said, "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free"; I believe that being able to read allows one freedom and the confidence to choose any path in life; opens doors figuratively and literally. Everyone can learn to read and write; they just need a teacher with passion and purpose to take the time and effort to determine how to best instruct the individual student; I am that teacher. I am excited to work with even more students, as a Varsity tutor, to continue to "fill in educational gaps" and walk through some doors that have been closed to our students over the past few months due to COVID restrictions.
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Undergraduate Degree: Clemson University - Bachelors, Elementary Education
Graduate Degree: Arkansas State University-Main Campus - Masters, Educational/School Leadership
kayaking, swimming, reading, traveling, and restoring vintage furniture
- College English
- CSAP/ TCAP Prep
- Elementary School
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Science
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- Homework Support
- ISEE Prep
- ISEE- Middle Level
- Learning Differences
- MAP Prep
- Math
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- Middle School Writing
- Other
- Phonics
- Reading
- Science
- Special Education
- SSAT Prep
- SSAT- Elementary Level
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Summer
- Test Prep
- TOEFL Prep
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
All students can learn, but in a different way, and on a different day! I differentiate instruction to meet the unique needs of each of my learners.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I will learn about each student’s interests, fears, accomplishments, struggles, and goals they would like to reach from tutoring and for their future.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Praise and encouragement. I also instill in my students that it is okay to fail because "failure leads to success!" You must always keep trying because you will eventually "get it!"
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Find a way that works for the student to get it. I would be creative, be intentional, and be reflective.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I teach students to tune in to their inner voice as they are reading; to be metacognitive, which means thinking about thinking. As we read we are asking questions, making connections, making predictions and inferences, etc. Once a student realizes they are doing these things they become excited about reading. I also teach students to quickly sketch what they are visualizing as they are reading, and/or to annotate as they are reading. All of these skills aid comprehension.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
You must build trust with students. It is important to learn about each other as individuals. It is also important that students know/learn about their tutor’s experience as an educator, and learn about how their tutor can help them.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would tell a success story of a struggling student that I have taught. I would also tell of a time that I, personally struggled as a student personally when I was their age, and tell how I overcame it. Educators must be empathetic to a learner’s fears and anxieties.