hello,
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Working in the public school systems as a teacher, Reading Specialist and Literacy Coach for more than 25 years, I have seen, first-hand, the challenges that underperforming students face. Even in the year 2023, disparity and achievement gaps in specific demographic groups are still an unfortunate reality. Each year that a student's reading gap is unaddressed, is one more year of frustration, and increased risk of dropping out of school before graduation. Let's end this disappointing cycle together.
My goal is to help families understand where gaps in reading skills exist, work consultatively to develop a plan for their student(s); and address the gaps in an efficient and highly effective way in each tutoring session. I offer parents & guardians "compassionate truth" about the reading levels of students; and I offer students realistic, authentic and empathetic instruction. I will only use highly effective curriculum. wasting someone's time with nonessential work is spirit-dampening. I'm ready to put the "shine" back into teaching and Learning!
I teach from the heart and have a passion for excellence. Working remotely provides me the ability to meet with students around the country & Globe; in different time zones than my own: which means my schedule is flexible, fluid; and I can be available or make adjustments when students or a Tutoring company I contract with needs me to. I am willing to work evenings and weekends (I currently do, and love it!); and I consider myself an excellent conversationalist as well as listener.
Kathy Alves, M.Ed.
k-12 Certified & endorsed reading specialist
Free 20-minute Meet & Greet via zoom to discuss your needs and get to know me a little bit. Simply request.
Introduction
Vision:
1.) Parents who want to strategically direct their child's education partnering with Sunshine City Tutoring, to develop and implement actionable steps for their child/children.
2.) Teach developing readers to fill in the gaps in literacy skills; using targeted; "gold standard" curriculum and methods.
3.) Teach micro-school classes in a variety of subjects for fun & enrichment.
4.) To share the joy of teaching and learning consistently with like-minded stakeholders.
5.) High-quality literacy education and consultations that is simple, highly-effective
Mission:
Provide high-quality instruction & education-related consultative services that leads to confident learners who have a sense of purpose and agency in school, and in life.
Values:
1.) Integrity: Maintaining high standards for keeping the student's/students' highest good in mind; communicating with compassionate honesty.
2.) Knowledge: Utilizing continuing education to consistently inform lesson planning & implementation.
3.) Humor: Using humor, "good cheer," & friendly banter to allow others to relax and feel more at-ease.
4.) Empathy: Honoring the wonders of human diversity, and remaining sensitive to the cultural and emotional needs of others.
5.) Love: Teaching from the heart provides the true basis of instruction; and time spent together is in an atmosphere of complete acceptance and support of others, regardless of their mood. Celebrations of success happen in joyful bursts of excitement during shared "a-ha" moments.
Get to know me, as a Teacher, mentor and person who cares:
A 25-year veteran educator in Florida's public school system, I hold a Master's degree in Education, and am a Reading Specialist. I love teaching literacy, and doing it the right way, is the only way! I don't find merit in busy-work and "time-fillers." Every minute in a class counts; whether we are being in our joy, taking a brain break to bond and relax a little; celebrating a success; or diving deep into skill-practice. What most of us want from a learning experience is to know that our time was not wasted, and that we have been moved forward, if even just a little bit; as a result of having shown up. There has been a lot of waste in public education over the years. I reached a saturation point, and made a large life decision to retire, and become a free-lance teacher/tutor. My joy of teaching increases exponentially on a weekly basis now! I want all students to feel safe and comfortable in their learning environment, and I want to simply teach what a student needs, so that they can achieve a level of confidence and empowerment in academics and in life. I am a person who loves quality. What that means for any client is: I will work with commitment, to utilize what I know to be the most highly-effective strategies, materials and lessons to provide the most value possible in each learning session. I tend to "reach for the stars" and like to envision my students closing the gaps in literacy, and accessing a sense of self-worth and autonomy in literacy tasks. I use my years of experience and intimate knowledge of school systems to inform my practices. Where systems have failed in society are simply opportunities for us to choose a different way.
Honesty, integrity, laughter and heart-based teaching are at the core of who I am. Families are often unaware of the true levels of their children. The grading system in schools is often set up to provide only a glimpse of the student's strengths and challenges. Too often, I have seen the shock and dismay of parents who believe their child's "A" or "B" means they mastered skills. These parents will often ask questions such as: "How can my child be making an 'A', when they cannot complete their homework?" I love teaching and learning and have a passion for authentic curriculum. I believe that parents should be partners in choice, who are given opportunities to sincerely consult with the teacher, rather than being told what a system prescribes on their behalf. I have seen the "staffing process," with its red-tape and endless requirements for documentation cause needless delays and ultimate harm to students' development for no good reason. I bring my compassion, empathy, dedication, knowledge, and my heart into what I do. We all deserve to live in joy, and express ourselves in the many ways we may choose to; using our creativity to craft a life we feel satisfied with. I seek to work with those who want something better for themselves and their learners; and aren't afraid to ask: "how can we make this new way of schooling real?". It takes wise, caring partners to properly educate children. My approach to life is: repetitive inquiry and contemplation = wisdom. As I see inequities in society, I am drawn to be proactive, working with families in a united effort to "be the change," without defining and redefining ourselves from the past. When you are ready to reach out, we can chat to see if working together is the best fit for your child/children.
