Those who appreciate my style of teaching find that I am very energetic, creative, and inclined to create an emotionally safe atmosphere where learning is more fun and less tedious. My tendency is to stress the oral development of language, utilize many visual aids and hands-on learning activities, and create lots of crazy stories and pictures to serve as mnemonic devices for improved recall.

I find that I feed off my students and their energy: the more responsive they are to my passion for learning, the more I tend to laugh, bounce around, and play with them. During smaller sessions, and my individual lessons in particular, I tend to expend less energy on physical movement and more on relationship-building and contextual learning.

Some students need more of an emphasis on direct instruction, where theories are divulged and answers given in a very formal learning environment. They find comfort in the text book, simple formulas, and prefer homework to be assigned weeks in advance. Though I am capable of teaching and tutoring in that manner, and could cater to a student with such needs, I prefer to teach in a more relaxed atmosphere where learning happens through enjoyment, discovery, and mutual respect.  

In addition to my informal style and personality, some of my students are drawn to the convenience of having their tutor/teacher come to them. For those who prefer to meet in a public location, that is an option as well. For small groups, classes can be held either in a student's home, or in an available room of a local school or community center.

Client Feedback

"Tamara is definitely the best teacher I've ever had. She makes you want to learn, and brings new, creative, and exciting methods of learning every time you meet. Not only has she taught me academically, but she has also taught me many things about life. Without Tamara, I wouldn't be where I am, nor who I am, today."

Marie

High School Student  

“Tamara has been instrumental in my daughter's success as a Spanish immersion student.  When we started working with Tamara a year ago, my daughter was struggling to keep up with the middle school immersion content (all seventh grade language arts and social studies curriculum are in Spanish).  My daughter has increased her grades from D's and F's in seventh grade to mostly B's in eighth grade.  Tamara is an experienced teacher with a very approachable and pleasant personality.  She not only jumps in to help organize and accomplish big assignments, but creates fun and engaging ways to learn as well.  I highly recommend working with Tamara, especially for any struggling immersion student.”

Sarah

Parent of Middle School Student

"My daughter has worked with Tamara for over 3 years and I have seen great strides. Under Tamara's tutelage, she has become a great writer. She has also learned how to study for tests and improve her organization skills. Tamara is a very responsible woman who brings out the best in her student and makes it fun at the same time."

Charisse

Parent of High School Student  

"The kids at Westview kept telling me how much they learned from Tamara and how much energy she brought to the German program. I heard not only from kids, but from parents too, and believe it or not, most kids deep down do want to learn. She made that possible. My daughter's class was jealous as they saw all the fun stuff on the walls and talked to their friends in her class."

Susan

German Summer Camp Director

“Tamara has been a wonderful tutor for our family. Learning German with her has been fun and positive. I don’t believe my children would be reading, writing and speaking German without her multifaceted approach to learning. Her flexibility, encouragement, and skill working with preteens and teens has made this experience something we enjoy as a family. My children are comfortable and confident working with Tamara, and with her help, I have become much more willing to not only learn but actually speak German. She is a wonderful person with many talents and we appreciate her as a teacher and also a friend to our family.”

Tracy

Student and Parent