About Me

BASIC INFO:Master's in Teaching (MAT) - TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other LanguagesBA (Honors) - French, Spanish, GermanPost-Grad studies in Applied Linguistics, Literacy, Curriculum Development, Technology in EducationState-Approved Teaching Credentials in California and Florida for ESOL, French, SpanishTeaching Middle School, High School, College/University, AdultsOver thirty years teaching experience, domestic and international, public and private schools, and individual students. Twenty years in public high school. PERSONAL EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY:Each and every person has his or her own best and favorite ways of learning. Sometimes those ways might need a little tweaking in order to make them more effective. Sometimes, in addition to the tweaking, we may need to sort out how to make those favorite ways more effective within the learning process. Each and every person also has challenges in learning. Most of us tend to cover up or try to hide those challenges because somehow we feel embarrassed or ashamed that we sometimes struggle to learn. Part of my job is helping a student to discover the value of those challenges and struggles and to show a student how important wrong answers are to the learning process. It is only when we continue to let our struggles define us that progress is difficult to achieve. When there is no failure, there is no success. You simply cannot have one without the other. Another note is the importance of planning and accountability. I once heard a coach say to her team, "Failing to plan is planning to fail." But, when we plan to achieve a goal, we create the best possible pathway to that achievement. Part of the plan must be step-by-step accountability: little imaginary dots on a graph that prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that progress is being made, even when it might not feel like it or the progress seems too slow to believe it. Finally, a student has to decide for him- or herself if mastering a topic is something that he really wants to do; really and honestly wants to do whatever she's got to do in order to get it done. Ultimately it is the responsibility of the student to do the legwork and to make the commitment to do so. Your teacher or tutor is there only to facilitate that learning; not do it for you! I can bring dancing girls, bells, and whistles, but YOU have to do the work. If, however, the desire and willingness are both there, solid and unwavering, nothing will stop your learning. Nothing. It WILL happen and I will be there all along the way. You've got this, but YOU have to believe that and know in your heart that you'll do whatever it takes. Two quotes to think about:"If you think you can, or if you think you can't, you are right." - Henry Ford"Never give up. Never give up. Never give up." - Winston Churchill

Education & Certifications

Q&A with JE

Tutoring Subjects