Current MA in English student offering engaging and fun writing and literature courses for all ages.

Find out more about Shannon

• 1) When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  I started loving math when I was small because I would use it to help my grandfather build birdhouses and plant/can the garden. I think every child should know at least basic math. It opens a lot of personal doors for them, and it gives them confidence in their finances.
  
  I have always loved science. Again, my grandfather helped spark that love. I spent a lot of time outside growing up. We would sit on the porch, and he would identify the birds that came to the feeder. As I got older, he would identify our area's local plants and trees. My grandmother was an avid flower gardener, so I was constantly learning about how to care for different plants.
  
  English was a later passion. I started enjoying it in high school and college, it only further developed. I love to write, and helping others improve their writing abilities is one of my passions. I also enjoy helping students with reading comprehension. To me, this is a skill that will help them protect themselves in the future. Reading comprehension allows them to pick the best health insurance plan for themselves, understand hidden fees, and grasp current laws and regulations.
  
  When I was in the 7th grade, I began tutoring 6th-grade students in math. This really sparked my love for helping others in an academic setting.

• 2) Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  I teach K-12 and Post Secondary English, K-12 and Post Secondary Writing, K-8 Science and Biology, and K-8 Math and Algebra I. My favorite subjects are science and writing. I especially love teaching nonfiction writing with a focus on biology. I try to make students aware that there are no "math/science" people and "English/art" people. The Sciences and Humanities need each other, and the more students work directly with both disciplines, the more well-rounded a student will be.
  
  I do not like teaching spelling. I am not a good speller. When I was in elementary school, they taught spelling through a program called Hooked on Phonics. This method required me to sound out the words and spell them based on the sound. I have a Southern Accent with an Appalachian Dialect. There was no 'sounding out' words in a way that resulted in the correct spelling. For example, if I sounded it out, oil would be spelled 'ole.' This left me embarrassed and often resulted in me not wanting to participate in class on spelling days.

• 3) Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  My 7th Grade Math Teacher made me want to become a teacher. She supported me through some hard times in my life. Not only was she an amazing teacher, but she also became a mentor and, as I got older, a friend. She has helped me through major life transitions and made sure I passed Geometry in high school. She has been a huge part of my life for over 15 years.

• 4) What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  Anyone can sign up to be a tutor. But not everyone can be a good one. Tutors have to be able to connect with their students and meet the students where they are. I want my students to want to tell me about their day. I want to hear the funny thing their friend did last week, and I want my students to want to come to tutoring. A good relationship with a student will serve them more than any worksheet or practice drill. If students want to come to tutoring, they will learn faster and grow more than if they come because they feel like they have to.

• 5) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  In Undergrad, I knew I wanted to be an English Major. I love to write. But I also love Science, specifically Biology. My advisor turned me onto the Professional Writing tract for the English Department. She learned that I really loved Science Writing and told me I should minor in Biology. She minored in chemistry when she was an undergrad.
  
  I did well in Bio 101, but in 102 I struggled a little. I asked the professor if there were any tutoring opportunities or ways I could work towards extra credit. The first question they asked me was what my major was. After learning that I was an English major, the next question was, "then why are you in this class?"
  
  This continued through Immunology, Botany, and my other science courses. Every time I asked for help, the response was always the same "Why are you here?" or "This might be a little too hard for you."
  
  Every time I started to feel discouraged or like I didn't belong in the Science Department, my advisor reminded me that I had as much right to be there as anyone else. With her support, I graduated with a 3.6 with an MA in English, a Certificate in Professional Writing with a concentration on Science Writing, and a Minor in Biology.

• 6) What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?

  School isn't easy for everyone. I could not read until almost the 3rd grade. I went to a private school where the majority of the children had at least one stay-at-home parent. My mom worked full-time, and my grandparents took care of me. I did not receive the same level of after-school education that many of my peers did. For this reason, I was behind.
  
  I hated to read. We would read aloud in class, and everyone would go around and read the next line or paragraph. I was constantly getting in trouble for not paying attention because I never knew where we were. In reality, I was counting the articles (A, And, An, The) trying to keep up. I knew those. For this reason, I never considered myself a good reader. Thankfully, in middle school, my 7th-grade math teacher worked with me on reading and gaining confidence.

• 7) Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  My passion is nurturing growth. I have found many ways to do this. For people, I do this by helping students reach their full potential and gain confidence in their abilities. For domestic animals, I foster bottle-fed babies to make sure they are healthy enough to get adopted eventually. For wildlife, I volunteer as a rehabber who provides medical care, transportation, and husbandry care until they are healthy enough to be released back into the wild.
  
  My passion is helping others thrive.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof (besides answering this interview questions :-P)?

  I am a Superprof because I meet students where they are. My goals for students are to gain confidence in their studies so that they will eventually no longer need me, to grow from mistakes, and to give themselves grace.