"For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a teacher. I love teaching.

Currently, I am serving as a tutor to Hazel Green Alabama and the area. I am also a stay-at-home mother looking to help students succeed. Prior to moving to Hazel Green, Alabama I taught first grade for two years at Seisen International School in Tokyo, Japan. I also taught first grade for three years at Chimoborazo Elementary School, a lower socio-economic inner-city school in Richmond, VA. All students are unique; I want my students to become knowledgeable, respectful, and caring citizens and for them to be excited about their education and to look forward to coming to school. I so enjoy seeing the light in their eyes as they grow and develop a life-long love for learning. I consider myself successful as a teacher when my students are successful.I have always tried to challenge my students to develop strength of mind and character and to learn to think for themselves. I feel students learn best when learning is student-centered. It is important that students develop a clear understanding of new facts and ideas. Students should be able to express what they have learned in their own words, not just memorize answers. Inspiring a student to become a life-long learner and creative critical thinker means guiding them in learning how to learn with self confidence, not just helping them prepare for a test. Also noteworthy, I feel that my deaf education minor has helped immensely in my teaching. It offers me another way to interact with my students and for them to interact with their classmates. Using sign language in the classroom also helps with classroom management. As a successful form of non-verbal communication and an excellent teaching tool, American Sign Language is something special I bring to the classroom." less...