Tuesday, May 15, 2012

And the fun begins!  I just placed my very first advertisement in the NJ School of Music Recital bulletin!  I feel so official now...

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

"If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn." --- Ignacio Estrada



Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.  ~Chinese Proverb

Learning.  My focus in life!  I want to learn and grow.  I want my children to learn and grow.  And I want YOUR children to learn and grow!

Through volunteering, parenting, assisting teachers, and finally by teaching full-time, I have been involved in childrens' learning for 17 years.   I am well aware that everyone learns differently, and I want to provide the optimal learning environment for each child. 

My most personally satisfying teaching experiences involved recess extra help sessions with just 1-2 children.  Being able to sit with a child for 24 minutes and really get a glimpse into the working of their minds -- wow.  Powerful!  From there it becomes a wonderful journey to work together to fill the holes in their knowledge and recapture the love of learning that had been beaten down by perceived failures. 

One of the most frustrating aspects of a teacher's day is the lack of time.  We want the time to sit with a child  one-on-on and help them understand and grow, but we don't have it.  In  reality, with a class of 20-30 children and just 48 minutes, you can't sit with one child for an extended period of time.  5 minute conferences and then move on!

Not anymore!  As a tutor, I'll be able to work with children as long as they need.  I can develop a program of learning specifically designed to their needs and goals without dividing my focus.    Next step: designing a questionnaire that will help me to determine what is needed and the best method for facilitating learning!