Shonte: Burr Ridge tutor

Certified Tutor

I'm passionate about teaching students because I know all students can learn. In my experience, I have worked with students who have special needs, physical disabilities, emotional disabilities, behavioral disabilities, as well as, learning disabilities in a self-contained classroom, resource classroom, Preschool with Disabilities classroom, an afterschool program, and a small home school. By working with these students, I realized I was adept at teaching them new information. The students were at ease with me and trusted me. They understood I cared about them and wanted to see them do well in school. They gravitated toward me and wanted to learn.
I have a Bachelor of Science in Elementary & Special Education (Dual Major) from Grand Canyon University (GCU). I began a Master of Education in Educational Administration Degree at GCU. I have a semester yet to graduate with honors Alpha Chi.
I tutor in ELA and Math for elementary and middle-grade students. I also tutor in Science and Social Studies, but I prefer ELA and Math because I worked with students in elementary and middle schools in both subjects for six years as a general education and special education teacher. I worked for one year in science and social studies in middle school.
My teaching philosophy is that all students can learn. I have taught preschoolers that could not walk, talk, see, hear, feed themselves, etc. No matter the disability or special needs, I have written a goal for it and taught students that were considered unteachable or unable to learn certain skills.
I am passionate about teaching students who struggle by using what they CAN do and what they know already to build upon and solidify their knowledge using their favorite things, pictures, videos, and manipulatives with guided instruction, and telling them they can do anything they set their mind to do. I ask my students to try. If they make that deal with me, I can teach them.
What I do when I'm not teaching or tutoring online:
I live on a homestead with a pond that I have fished since I was seven, so I love to fish and even started kayak fishing. I have organic gardens every year and also grow microgreens and sprouts. A hobby I have taken up recently is metal detecting. I am steadily learning how to pick good targets like coins and jewelry. I still dig up pull tabs off cans and bottle caps (even seasoned metal detectorists do this). I go metal detecting on the beach and land. I enjoy riding an e-bike to metal-detecting sites and to neighboring fishing holes. I will go glamping with my best friends and love to hike trails as well. I love to be outdoors having fun in nature!