Victoria

Certified Tutor

I remember what its like to stare at a piece of homework and not know where to start. Along the way my teachers helped me realize the value of asking questions. In my tutoring, my number one goal is to remove the anxiety behind asking questions about why or how. I believe all students should feel that asking questions is a good academic skill rather than a weakness. In high school, I started tutoring for the National Honor Society, where I enjoyed tutoring underclassmen in Spanish, Chemistry, and Biology.
I was born in Panama and later moved to Texas with my family; however, Ive spent most of my life in the DFW area. After high school, I was designated as an AP Scholar. I made high marks on the AP exams for English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, and the highest scores on US History and World History.
Later, I was named a National Hispanic Merit Scholar and received a full ride scholarship to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where I was also accepted into UNLs Honors college. I double majored in Spanish and Psychology and received minors in International Studies and Latin American Studies. During my years in Lincoln, I tutored middle schoolers in Biology, Pre-Algebra, Spanish, and English Language Arts. I also provided academic organizational skills tutoring and study tips. For my undergraduate research, I worked in a developmental cognitive neuroscience lab on campus. In my free time I volunteered at a cat shelter.
After earning my Bachelor of Arts degree, I moved back to DFW to work in my current position doing research for the University of Texas at Dallas. I assist in a project investigating how middle schoolers learn best in their classrooms In my position, Ive traveled all across Texas and Arizona. Im familiar with middle school classrooms and the standard Texas curriculum for middle school grades. While working, I earned my Master of Science degree in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience.at the University of Texas at Dallas. I focused my coursework on adolescent development, learning, and memory.
I have experience working with English Language learners within a diverse student body all across Texas. One of my favorite areas is Spanish tutoring for new and native speakers. Oftentimes, Spanish will be spoken at home and a student will have a fluent ability to speak and understand the language. However, reading and writing in the language may need more guided practice. For me, learning to write and read in Spanish was not something I learned at home. I remember being embarrassed at misspelling Spanish words that I had been speaking for years at home. I share my experience with students to highlight how common this situation is when learning to read and write in language.
I believe sharing my past experiences and anxieties with learners is helpful for middle schoolers. At this age, they are beginning to navigate their own learning and choose their own classes. My drive to tutor middle school topics in English Language Arts, Spanish, and History is fueled by my desire to set the stage for fearless learning in students.