After 3 years of teaching in Spanish-English bilingual schools, I pursued my dream of teaching overseas. My adventures brought me to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where I taught ELL for one year. While there, I enjoyed traveling, trying new food, and trying to speak the language! This is also where I began my tutoring career. I tutored students from grades kindergarten through 6th grade. As an ELL tutor, I used the Language Experience Approach for many of my lessons. I took students on field trips, built things with them, and made food together. We used these experiences to practice new vocabulary, read, and write. When I moved back to the states, I started teaching high-school students English with the Wisconsin International Academy. I also tutored for a relocation company helping children and adults with their English acquisition. This tutoring experience was very student-guided. I planned lessons according to what the student or parents wanted. These, like all my lessons, were assessed and modified regularly. As an ELL educator, I tutor all subjects. Language is not isolated, so all of my lessons are taught in context. My favorite subject to teach is writing. I love helping students turn their thoughts into well-organized, cohesive papers. I also enjoy the systematic rules to grammar and how these rules can be applied to speaking, listening, and reading! My philosophy of education is very student-centered. I believe in getting to know my students—their likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses. Once a trusting relationship is formed, teaching and learning comes much easier. I believe in incorporating student interest, starting where students are at and working up, and letting students experience and celebrate successes along the way. I also believe in making learning fun, so I use a lot of games in my lessons. In my spare time, I enjoy baking and cooking, hanging out with my 11-month-old daughter, renovating my house (currently, I am refinishing an old hutch), going for walks with my black lab and baby, and grilling out with friends.

cooking, shopping at farmer's markets, visiting different parks, and socializing