Katrina: Blue Island tutor

Certified Tutor

I received my undergraduate degree at the University of Northern Iowa in K-12 Spanish and K-12 TESOL. I have also received a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an Emphasis in TESOL through Buena Vista University and a Master's Degree in Instructional Technology at the Univeristy of Northern Iowa. In between my two Master's degrees, I also obtained a reading/language arts endorsement at Drake Univeristy.

I am in my 21st year of teaching. I taught elementary K-6 ESL for eight years before moving to the secondary level where I have taught grades 7-12. I currently teach high school ESOL for students in grades 10-12. I have also co-taught in several content classes. Most of my co-taught experiences are in English 2 (sophomore level), Biology, and English Concepts (an English class for at-risk or struggling students.

For the past two and a half years, I have virtually taught English to students in China. I have also virtually tutored elementary, middle, and high school aged students in English and reading in other states in the US.

I believe that every student can be successful in learning with the right tools and motivation. Students have individual needs and it is my job to help meet those needs; if they are struggling, then they are going to become disengaged and uninterested and learning will not occur. When I teach, my goal is to meet students where they are and give them the tools and motivation to learn. I also want to make learning relevant to students, especially with stuggling or disengaged students. When they can see the broader picture or can connect how the learning is, or will be, important to life after school, then they are more motivated to learn.

I consider myself a life long learner. I tell my students that I learn from them as they learn from me. We learn together.