Laverne: Long Island City tutor

Certified Tutor

I attended Shaw University for my undergraduate degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Elementary Education and Sociology. My Master of Sciences was achieved from Capella University in Professional Studies in Education. I was awarded my Doctor of Philosophy from Capella University in 2018. I am passionate about education because I believe it is an honor to help others reach their academic goals. I enjoy working with students because it's very rewarding. I have a background as an elementary teacher for over 14 years in grades K-6. I also have had the pleasure with working with adult students that wish to learn English as a second language and basic education. I tutor English and Reading and Writing.
As an elementary educator it is my commitment to create a classroom environment that was not only welcoming for my students but also conducive for learning. I strongly believe in the home school collaboration because in order for the students to achieve both of these entities must be in sync with each other. My approach to teaching is one that has evolved considerably since my first teaching assignment as a fourth-grade teacher in 2006. I believed teaching consisted of the teacher being the focal point of the discussion. Later on I realized that encouraging students to formulate their own questions, investigate their answers, build new understanding and communicate these understandings to others, fosters a deeper level of student engagement that I could ever have accomplished by speaking to the students. I use the constructivist learning approach when teaching. This approach occurs when students are actively involved in the process of meaning and knowledge construction as opposed to passively receiving information.
My general teaching focus at the Community College level is to promote learning by engaging students in their learning environment. Promoting higher order thinking skills and respecting their opinions and backgrounds. This teaching position has given me the opportunity to meet a variety students from all around the world. At Wake technical Community College I teach as an adjunct Instructor to ABE (Adult Basic Education) students.
My teaching philosophy evolved, to including principles and theories that relate to adult learning and constructivist theory explains that learning happens by creating a meaning from experience and what the learner knows is based on his/her own experience (Ertmer & newby, 1993). Furthermore, in adult learning theories, the learner is involved and takes responsibility of his/her learning process. The learners self-reflect, gather information, collaborate with others and are self-directed (Colan, Grabowski & Smith, 2003). In recognizing how adult learners perceive education, I incorporated this into my teaching by using real life examples for my students.
Finally, as I reflect on my years of teaching, I perceive teaching as being amazing and enjoyable experience that I would like to continue to share with my students. It is my intention that my students will develop their own ways of learning and reflect positively on their lives and community. I consider myself very fortunate because I enjoy teaching others.