🍎 Ms. Clarissa
🍏 Math, ELA, ESL Teacher

🎓 Education and Certifications: 
* TEFL Certificate 
 * Liberal Arts Diploma 
* Certificate in Interior Architecture & Design 
* Certificate in Ballet Teaching 
* Private Latin Studies

In Progress: Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (80+ credits completed) 

🔰 Experience: 
* 5+ years ESL online teacher 
* Professional photographer 
* Ceilidh dance caller 
* Ballet teaching experience

  👋 About Me: It's so nice to meet you! I'm Clarissa and I live in Ontario, Canada. I've been teaching online for over 5 years now and have taught close to 3000 classes. In addition to teaching, I am also a self-taught professional photographer. Over the past few years, I've gained experience in portrait, wedding & event photography. My love for learning and teaching reaches beyond the academic realm. I also help host and call ceilidh dances several times a year. I love helping and guiding students in the learning process and I find it so rewarding to watch learners find joy in mastering a skill they thought they couldn't do well in. I grew up in a household of sisters (I am the oldest of four!) and we love to host dances & volunteer in our young adult community. I also serve as a member of my church's Young Adult Leadership Team. Other interests include: going on long walks, reading, flower pressing, embroidery, & drinking a lot of coffee!

🏫 Teaching Philosophy and Teaching Style: 

 * I believe the teacher’s role is to be a mentor and guide to students, offering them direct support, modelling excellence and encouraging them in the right direction. The famous educator Charlotte Mason would often refer to the idea of spreading a "feast" for children - meaning that a teacher's responsibility is to offer a rich selection of books, ideas, & materials that ignite new interests and pique a child's appetite for learning. She stated that we must "install [in children] in a very rich and glorious kingdom, to bring a continual holiday to their doors, exquisitely served” 

 * As Charlotte Mason also advocated, I believe that "children are born persons", meaning that even young learners have their own individual needs, desires and unique temperaments. I believe every child should be spoken to kindly and with respect for the good work that they do. Just as adults are hired to do work by employers, a child's "work" is his or her education in the formative years of life. As such, as a teacher I make an effort to thank my students for their hard work, attention and diligence in my classes. 

 * I strive to be a warm, understanding and encouraging teacher. Since students have different learning styles, I believe that children should progress at their own pace and should not be afraid to make mistakes as they learn and grow. 

 * I aim to foster an atmosphere of trust where students feel at ease and excited to succeed. I look forward to getting to know your student and be a part of their learning journey!