Hello! My name is Teacher Laurie! I am very excited to be a new tutor with Varsity Tutors and I look forward to meeting you! I have a Bachelors Degree in English with a minor in Psychology from Monmouth College and a Master's Degree in Teaching from National Louis University. I have taught or tutored students ages 3 through adult in a wide variety of settings and subject areas, including prep for standardized tests. I am currently an Elementary School teacher at a Title I school and have 20 years of teaching experience. I also have my Special Education Certification and work with students that have a broad range of learning challenges. Many students now struggle as well due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused students to fall behind in their studies. I tutor in our After School Tutoring Program at my Elementary School during the school year and I also teach Summer School, in order to help students to review and retain the skills they have learned during the school year. I have had the wonderful opportunity to study and live in other countries. I lived in Hong Kong for more than a year and taught English to both children and adults from all over the world. I love teaching and it gives me great joy to see students of any age learn! After all, we are all students each day of our lives. The gaining of knowledge and experience never ends! My goal is to make learning engaging, interesting, and lasting! I look forward to meeting you in the online classroom!

I am an experienced teacher - from High School Math (Algebra I) to first grade phonics. I enjoy helping students discover they can understand a concept that had been confusing before. I coach volleyball at the eighth grade level, and have done so for more than ten years - it's a great activity to develop confidence and teamwork. I come from a large family- -12 brothers and sisters - and like to make people laugh. Even when we are doing homework! I always find out what the student knows, and what might be confusing before starting to tutor. I often find that we can get a quantum leap in performance if we inspect the little things.

I am a graduate of The Monmouth College where I received a Bachelor's of Arts in Biochemistry. Currently, I attend The University of Illinois at Chicago in pursuit of my Doctor of Pharmacy. While at Monmouth I was involved in various tutoring/teaching positions. I served as the supplemental instructor of analytical chemistry, teaching assistant for general chemistry, and cadaver dissection team member. Through the experience of being a student and a tutor, I have learned the unique challenges the science student encounters. As a student athlete in both high school and college, I understand the difficulties of time management and the importance of maintaining success in the classroom. Attending a small college allowed my passion for biology and chemistry to flourish through the close relationships I made with my peers and professors. I bring this hands-on approach I was given in my undergrad to my students by pinpointing their exact needs to ensure material is not just memorized, but understood. Outside of my science pursuits I enjoy reading, hiking, and exploring my city of Chicago.

I hold a BA in Mathematics from Monmouth College. I also taught students my age and tutored kids of all grade levels. I am an aspiring actuary who, like many others, studies day in and day out. So I understand the anxiety and struggles in exam prep and taking exams. I am very eager to help students study, learn, and grow in mathematics, as I have from the people who taught me, and I hope to do the same and pass on the joy in learning and solving math problems.

This is my 20th year in education having worked with students ages 2 through college. I have K-12 experience in Texas as an Educational Diagnostician, Dyslexia Interventionist, Special Education teacher, and Academic Interventionist. I love working with my students and watching them grow.

I believe that each child is a beautiful and unique creation, one rooting from the beliefs and experiences of those who came before him. I see education as an opportunity to contribute to the formation of each unique individual.My goal as a teacher is to create a community of learners, both within and beyond the classroom. I provide a safe environment by establishing classroom norms, modeling positive behavior, allowing opportunities for free expression, and initiating learning. I reach out to parents and the school community using newsletters, school websites, handwritten notes, and by being present at student drop-off and pick-up, school events, and parent meetings. Parent involvement is expected. I keep both students and parents informed on our classroom happenings, invite parents in as volunteers, and ensure that students and their parents understand that we are a team working towards the same goal: the best education for that unique, individual child.My role as a teacher is to wear many hats. I must analyze situations to provide my students with the many forms of guidance that they desire and require. In my classroom, I am a facilitator, an assessor, a cheerleader, an inquisitor, an observer, and a helper. Each day, I provide my students with the support that they need.I believe that students are motivated by the opportunities and choices that are provided to them. My students invest themselves in their own education using the opportunities for choice, exploration, and guidance. I guide my students as they explore their surroundings, interact with their peers, and engage in new learnings. In my classroom, learning is facilitated through thematic units that provide an opportunity for in-depth study, higher-order thinking, and cross-curricular connections.I believe that students learn best through enriching and engaging activities. Students need to be provided with a variety of activities that address the different types of learners. My students spend time working in whole group, in small groups, with partners, and individually. My students are expected to collaborate, but they are also asked to show independence.I believe that young learners, especially in our increasingly technologically-connected world, need to be provided immediate feedback and to be constantly engaged. My students will learn through center-based instruction that allows the use of hands-on learning via manipulatives, technological learning via computers and tablets, traditional paper and pencil work, guided group work, and collaborative partner work. By providing students with centers and facilitating rotations, l appeal to and maximize on the attention spans of young learners.In my classroom, each child is provided with differentiated instruction. Small groups are formed using the data received through assessments and also through my personal knowledge of the students. Each student receives his or her education at the level most appropriate for his or her academic, social, and emotional needs. Each student is considered a unique individual with something unique to offer the classroom, and not just as a piece of data from a test.I set high expectations for behavior and classroom management from the first day of school onward. My students understand the importance of being responsible, respectful, and safe. I hold each student accountable. My management techniques focus almost exclusively on positive reinforcement, providing students with the responsibility and opportunity to make decisions that will set them up for success. I believe that all students strive to do well; if a student is acting out, I look for an underlying cause. I speak personally to students to understand and prevent future negative behavior. I listen to the students’ wants, needs, and concerns.As an elementary teacher, I am responsible for providing young students with both a positive learning experience and an engaging environment. I provide this experience through modeling and communication of respect, care, patience, and safety.

As a retired educator with over 20 years of classroom experience and a dual degree in History and Education from Monmouth College, I am passionate about fostering a love for learning in my students. My certification allows me to teach all subjects for grades Pre-K through 8, but I have found my niche in tutoring language arts, reading, writing, and history for students in grades 2 through 8 and math for students in grades 3 and 4. I thrive on creating engaging lessons that emphasize comprehension and critical thinking, often using mentor texts to make learning enjoyable and relevant. I have spent the last seven years tutoring students virtually, honing my ability to connect with learners of all ages, including adults. My teaching philosophy centers on understanding each student's unique needs and tailoring my approach accordingly, ensuring that they not only meet their academic goals but also develop confidence as lifelong learners. As a lifelong reader and writer, I bring my enthusiasm for literature and history into each session, sparking meaningful discussions that connect past events to contemporary issues. I believe that every child has the potential to succeed, and I am committed to helping them discover their strengths in a supportive and engaging environment.