Tutors
"Remember, popcorn is prepared in the same pot, in the same heat, in the same oil, but the kernels do not pop at the same time.
Don't compare your child to other children, his/her turn to pop is coming."
Angela Baird
I am a former Humber College teacher and an over 17-year volunteer (in and out of the classroom) with the Peel District School Board, winning several Volunteer of the Year awards. I am also a Nutritherapy Practitioner who specializes in behaviour modification.
I became a tutor and opened our family-owned business because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of children who not only struggle with their grades but also with their feelings of self-worth. This led to the development of results-driven programs that help boost grades and build self-esteem.
As a mother of two beautiful daughters, Kassandra, who owns a costume design business, and Anissa, who is my business partner, and is now looking forward to completing her PhD, I understand that we, as parents, often try so hard to understand the material our children are being taught or what the teacher is asking for. Often, we end up frustrated when we don't know how to help our children. I also know first-hand that our children do not always respond to parental help.
In addition, I understand that children who are having problems absorbing material are often ridiculed by their peers, leading to a breakdown in their level of confidence. A lack of confidence often causes children to stop participating in the classroom, hide their problems, lose focus or rush through work, become introverted or, alternatively, act out. Children who are struggling might also tell themselves that they are stupid or that they don't really like the subject anyway as a defence mechanism to protect themselves from the feelings that come with getting poor grades or their inability to grasp the work being taught to them in the classroom.
As a private tutor, I provide a safe and nurturing environment that gives struggling children permission to struggle without shame. Out of sight from their judgmental peers and/or teachers, whose expectations might not be realistic, children can now get the individualized attention they need to support their learning and unlock their self-confidence.
I also provide a learning environment that enables children who want to learn more or who need more of an academic challenge to grow and develop. Also, many children suffer from "test stress," which often leads to lower marks and a decline in self-confidence. I work with children to help alleviate this stress, providing stress-relieving strategies.
Tutor Tots is not just about doing homework with your children or handing your children volumes of worksheets. We are about nurturing relationships, building self-esteem, and giving your children permission to be the best they can possibly be.
Anissa B
Anissa is our Grade 6 to Grade 12 math and science tutor. She also helps our younger students who are in French programs at school. Anissa has completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto, majoring in linguistics and computer science. In 2021, she completed her Master's Degree in Linguistics, and is currently in her first year of her PhD. She is the recipient of many scholastic achievement awards, and is also a published author for her work on Apocope in Heritage Italian.
Anissa knows firsthand the positive influence a tutor can make in a child's life. Frustrated with math herself, she developed an amazing relationship with her own tutor, Dean, and, with Dean's help, she boosted her confidence and went on to receive many awards in math. Anissa is compassionate and positive, and she understands that, with the right tutor, anything is possible.
Click on the link to see Anissa's article in the Toronto Sun (2018)
torontosun.com/news/local-news/goldstein-charitys-legacy-lives-on
Anissa's Published Paper: Apocope in Heritage Italian
| languages-06-00120.pdf |
Kayla TW
Kayla is currently in her fourth year of her undergraduate degree at Lakehead University, majoring in French, minoring in Indigenous Learning and concurrently working towards her Bachelor of Education.
During her time at Lakehead, Kayla has earned her place on the Dean’s List (2017-Present), received numerous scholarships and participated in a Study Abroad program in Grenoble, France (January 2020). Prior to attending Lakehead University in 2017, she graduated from Humberview Secondary School as an Ontario Scholar with a French Immersion Studies certificate.
Throughout her university career, she’s had the pleasure of working in a variety of children’s programs, both in and out of the classroom. She has spent multiple summers as a camp counsellor and her school years teaching dance, leading after school programs and tutoring.
Kayla tutors French as a second language and English reading and writing.
Kayla’s message to parents is, “I want my students to be excited to learn!”
Chanelle R
Chanelle is entering the second year of her undergraduate degree, Bachelor of Science in nursing, at Ryerson University. She is currently working towards her goal of becoming a nurse practitioner.
Throughout her academic career, she has been an activate part of several clubs, a participant in peer tutoring, and was awarded Ontario Scholar as well as Honour Roll upon graduating from St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School.
Chanelle has gained great hands-on experience helping children within the classroom through volunteer work at St. Patrick's elementary school. The relationships she built with the children allowed her to have a positive impact on their learning environment and experience.
Chanelle's message to the parents is, "I strive to help my students grow their confidence both in and outside of the classroom!"
Christina D
Christina is a graduate from the University of Toronto, where she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics with a double minor in English and Visual Studies. She was acknowledged as one of the Top 50 high school students joining the undergraduate program and continued to receive multiple awards throughout her studies for her distinguished performance. At the graduate level, she completed her Master’s Degree in Linguistics, where she conducted research on the structure of Cantonese nominalization and worked as a Teaching Assistant for an undergraduate linguistics course.
In addition to leading tutorial sessions as a Teaching Assistant, Christina has experience with teaching beyond the university class setting. She tutored Grade 8 and 9 math in one-on-one sessions during the summers of her undergraduate years, as well as undergraduate syntactic theory in the summer of her graduate career.
Christina’s message to parents is, “I want to help students not only improve, but also be comfortable with and enjoy the learning process.”
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All children need is a little help, a little hope,
and people who believe in them.