I am captivated with the English language, photography, and hiking. So I had to go to SUNY New Paltz where I doubled-majored in English and Communication and Media. Since the English language only became more intriguing to me the more I learned, I earned a M.A. in English while I was tutoring freshmen college students and working as a student-teacher for the Communication and Media department.

These experiences made me aware that I loved helping students develop strategies to succeed. As a result, I became a Teaching Assistant at a high school, for two years, guiding students through subject-based tests, state exams, college essays,job preparation and wilderness backpacking experiences. While I worked at the high school, I began working towards earning a Master of the Arts of Teaching degree (December ‘14). I currently work as a Teaching Assistant with middle school students in ELA and Science. We are presently preparing for the state exams with a focus on reading and writing effectively.

By reflecting on my experiences, I can say I firmly believe that not all strategies work for every student and it is my job as an educator to help students develop their own bag of strategies that they can reach for in any circumstance. This is accomplished by modeling, remodeling, and teaching the student procedures to help them use those strategies correctly and effectively.