"My name is Ariana. I am certified in Primary PreK-5th General Education. I have a BA in Biology from Otterbein University, a Master of Arts in Teaching, Elementary Education, and am 95% finished with my Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, Early Childhood Education Focus of Study from the American College of Education with a 4.0 GPA. I have 3.5 years of teaching experience as a substitute and classroom teacher with students in PreK-6th grade and in general and special education. My students have included general education students and special education students with autism, Down syndrome, communication disorders, and other needs.

I have been an Extended School Year Instructor for my district for the last three summers. In this capacity, I have provided one-on-one tutoring for up to six students over one summer based on the needs listed in their IEPs. I have also worked with students in small group settings. My teaching style is very student-centered in that I always tie student learning with their interests. By this I mean that I strive to explain to students where they may use the skill or content we are working on in applications that may interest them. For example, if a student likes to go shopping, I may explain that adding decimals will be like adding totals of money spent shopping. I structure lessons where I explain the lesson, we practice the skill, and I allow the student to work on the lesson's content on their own. I also practice positive praise to help students build their confidence. I leave time in lessons to review the content and make sure the student understands and can apply what we learned." less...