Lisa: Mecklenburg County tutor

Certified Tutor

I started teaching 20 years ago, graduating from Texas State University where I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Education with a specialization in Math. I have worked with students from Early Childhood Special Education to 8th grade. After graduation from college, I taught 3rd-grade self-contained. When I received my ESL Certification and Special Education Certification, I worked with in-class support students as well as teaching a Math resource class for 6th-8th graders. I supported students in class with modifications and accommodations in 6th through 8th grade for Math, Science, History, and ELA. Students' levels increased by 4-7 levels throughout the year. I have administered State Testing to students from 3rd grade to 8th grade as well as modified and alternative tests for special education students. I also worked with students as a math and reading interventionist for students at risk of failing state testing. I administered the TELPAS test for English Language Learners. With my Autism Self-Contained class, I modified every subject and grade from Kindergarten to 5th grade to suit my students' learning needs. Every child learns differently. Some students need visuals, auditory cues, written cues, and/or hands-on learning. Throughout the years, I have differentiated my teaching to what my students need. I enjoy watching my students learn and master concepts. That feeling of pride when they are able to complete a math problem on their own or make real-life connections to what they learned is amazing. And the best way to learn is by playing. I do a mini-lesson or reteach a concept, practice, play a game over the material, then practice with the student teaching me. Many learners also do best with some movement which I incorporate into my lessons as much as possible, such as giving them a time limit to find 5 items. Then have the student situate those items into two groups. Students are doing basic algebra by formulating fact families with household items. This way the student is able to utilize a variety of learning types (auditory, kinesthetic, verbal, and social) at one time and increase executive functioning skills to better retain and then apply the knowledge learned.