Marilyn

Certified Tutor

As a recent recipient of a Master's Degree in Multicultural Education, from Northern Arizona University, at age 67, I consider myself a lifelong learner. My B.A. from the University of New Mexico was in Psychology with a focus on the Psychology of Learning, but my real passion for teaching arose when I had the opportunity to teach Pre-College students at the Tohono O'odham Community College, a tribal college in southern Arizona. These students were the ones who dropped out of school before they graduated, sometimes as early as the sixth grade.

What I learned in my 5 years teaching this population was that each student had different gaps in their knowledge base, gaps that prevented them from advancing in their education. Once the gaps were identified and mastered, my students able to advance to a more complex topic, many of them then able to pass the GED test.

I have a knack for recognizing gaps in a student's learning, because I can break down a task into its individual components. When I detect a student has a weakness in numeracy or reading, I pre-assess the student on each component to determine their proficiency, then I assign individual work that the student must practice on their own, preparing them to take on the challenges of the next tutoring session.

Students who chronically struggle with certain topics often become self-conscious about their ability to learn which clouds motivation and hampers actual learning. These students not be willing to address their weaknesses in a classroom setting. I am committed to helping students recognize and resolve the issues in their education that holds them back. One-on-one tutoring gives struggling students a place to work on their weaknesses without feeling anxious. Once surmounted, students gain a renewed sense of confidence and motivation for learning.

When I am not teaching, I like to spend time with my two grandchildren, who are both active in sports. Together we find outdoor activities we can do together, like bicycling, tennis and swimming. But my real love dancing! My husband and participate in ballroom, folk and country western dancing 3 times a week. It is my favorite way to have fun and stay healthy.

My goal as an educator is to be a driving force in creating an environment for my students to acquire the cognitive and social skills they need to construct their own sense of social, mental, and physical well- being.