Alison

Certified Tutor

I have a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a bachelor's degree in Social Work from Appalachian State University. I am currently working toward obtaining an MBA with a certificate in Supply Chain Management from East Carolina University.

I have worked with students of all ages when I worked for a tutoring franchise, and I have privately tutored elementary students in Reading. My teaching experience includes teaching 3rd, 4th, and 1st grades in addition to Pre-K. As a mom to five children ranging in age from 2 to 17 years, I am quite comfortable working with students of all ages.

My favorite subjects to tutor are Reading/Writing/English and Social Studies. Reading is the foundation for everything else that we need to learn, and I love helping struggling readers become more confident in their abilities. It is a pleasure for me to see the "lightbulb" go on for students when they make a breakthrough, and I like to be able to guide them to that point. Social Studies is just a favorite subject of mine!

My teaching philosphy is one of teacher as facilitator. It is not my job merely to give information to students. It is my job to teach students how to find that information for themselves. My role is to help students think critically and to support them and guide them with the necessary skills to be able to learn better in any subject area. My students and I focus largely on the skills and strategies necessary for learning, be it in Reading, Writing, or any other subject area. Most importantly, however, I strive to make learning FUN! No one wants to be bored. If there is a way to learn through games or interactive activities, that's the way we do it.

Outside of working with students, I enjoy music, piano, crafts, and reading. I am a voracious reader, as reading opens up entire new worlds for me. I also enjoy spending time with my large family. It is never boring around my house!

I look forward to working with you!