Science and math are my passions, and I love finding patterns. Science is about the discovery of something new-whether it is new to you or new to the world. Math is a logical thought process, where once you know the pattern, you can manipulate and extend it. Knowing there is always something new to learn has shaped my philosophy on life.
I love to explore, to learn, and to discover. I believe in striving to make my approach more meaningful to my audience. To do this, I constantly seek out professional development.
My flexibility, passion, and empathy have helped my learners of all ages feel safe in what can be a very difficult place: the "classroom," in whatever shape that takes. At her graduation speech, a formerly math-phobic student said, "Jen inspired me to think differently. She challenged me to face my fear of math so that I felt confident when I sat down to take that GED."
I have taught in different fields, from special education in an elementary school to adults working toward earning a diploma. I have tutored through programs such as Sylvan Learning Center, Kaplan Learnng Services, and ACES Tutoring Services, as well as privately tutoring students of all ages and in unique situations. Content that I have tutored has ranged from 5th grade language arts through college level Biology lab courses to teaching Microsoft Word and Excel to people working in factories. Teaching in such varied climates has made me confident to teach any group. My flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm lend themselves well to working in new and exciting fields.
In response to the economic shutdown and move toward online learning, I started my own YouTube Channel, trying to connect with my students in a novel way. Below is the playlist I've started.