"Hello! I'm Malissa, and I've been an elementary school teacher for 29 years. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and my Elementary Education License from Mesa State College (Colorado Mesa University). I also have a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, from the University of Phoenix. This degree introduced me to a variety of instructional strategies which have influenced my teaching by adding many tools to my teaching toolkit so that I am better able to meet the needs of many different learners.

The bulk of my teaching experience has been in grades 4 and 5. I have also been an instructional coach, where I worked with teachers to implement research based instructional strategies to support student learning. Throughout my career, I have tutored students after school in both reading and math. I also teach small groups daily that focus on reading, writing, and mathematical ideas according to students' needs.

As a classroom teacher, I approach math from concrete and representational experiences before moving on to abstract concepts. This allows students to build mathematical knowledge which allows them to apply math to a variety of situations. When it comes to reading and writing for upper elementary students, I teaching specific comprehension strategies and teach writing skills as a way to communicate knowledge and understanding. For K-3 students, I focus on phonics and developmentally appropriate comprehension strategies.

I am looking forward to supporting a variety of learners and will respond quickly. Feel free to contact me with any additional questions or to schedule a lesson!" less...