Hello & Welcome! My name is Alyssa Chirch and I am your learner's Photography teacher!

WHAT I TEACH
During the school year, I offer full curriculum courses in photography for middle school and high school students, and 1:1 tutoring for photography. I teach in the evenings during the school year and have daytime or evening camps, groups, and tutoring in the summer. Grades can be given for full curriculum courses as requested.

MY BACKGROUND AND EDUCATION
Currently, I am a family photographer in South Florida and I teach 4th grade at a Christian school. 

I love photography, have a family photography business, and have been teaching photography on Outschool since 2019. I have taught virtually or in-person for over 12 years in various subjects. In that time, I have taught English, Spelling, Reading, Physical Education, Praise Dance, Ballet, and Bible. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible & Ministry from Bethel College in Mishawaka, IN. I also have my temporary teacher certificate in the state of Florida for elementary education and am working toward my permanent licensure.

I have worked in the social work field with people with disabilities, as an employment specialist, and as a foster parent recruiter. These experiences have prepared me to work with all levels and abilities as well as helped me develop patience and compassion for my students so they feel safe and encouraged in my classes.

WHY & HOW I TEACH
My philosophy behind teaching is that I want every student to feel welcome and open to share in my classes. I want to create a place where the students feel comfortable interacting with each other as well as with me. I think it’s really great when the students help each other in class as well.  I am very interactive and ask for feedback from my students to support their learning. This feedback can be verbal responses to questions about learning, sharing their photos and answering questions about them, or sharing what they like about certain concepts discussed in class. I also give positive encouragement and constructive criticism to help them in the learning process. 

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME
In my spare time, I enjoy traveling with my family to experience new places. Most recently we have been exploring South Florida, since we moved here from small-town Indiana in 2019. My husband and I have 5 kids, 3 are grown and 2 are still at home. I have kids with special needs, as well, which continues to prepares me to work with all sorts of learners. I love to draw and paint as a hobby and play with our 2 beloved cats, Felix & Marie (Disney names, if you know-you know). Fun fact about me, I love to exercise and explore health-related concepts to stay in good health.