#personalized learning

I work one-on-one or with groups. Choose how many hours a month, how long a class you want, and much more. I focus on meeting your particular needs, handing out clear tasks and keeping art enjoyable! Please DM me if interested or email me at [email protected]

Hello! Since everyone is currently trapped in place and more or less indoors, but university classes are still going on and end-of-course/year tests are still up in the air, I’m stepping up my plans to offer online tutoring. 

If you, a student, need help keeping on top of things in these trying times, I am offering my services. (Also if you, a parent, feel that your kid could use a constructive distraction in the next few weeks... ) 

I will be available over a variety of media, including gmail, skype, whatsapp, discord, and google voice. I am prepared to offer tutoring in math and physics: 

Math: Pre-algebra, Algebra I&II, SAT/ACT prep, Pre-calculus, Calculus, AP Calculus AB & BC, and Statistics 

Physics: high school physics from general to AP levels; also some college level physics. 

Credentials: 

I graduated Biomedical Engineering with honors in 2016, and am in the final semester of my Masters of Arts in Teaching (full-time student teaching! currently on hold). I tutored College Algebra and Statistics as a Graduate Assistant. 

I am also bilingual (English-Russian), so if you are a Russian speaker looking to convert your skills to a new language, I am happy to assist. (I have found this also helps when working with ESL/ELL learners who speak a language other than Russian, but this will be up to you).

The rules of the game are these: 

Pre-interview is free. We discuss what topics you would like me to cover, or what type of assistance you would like (additional instruction? problem solving? etc). We will also discuss pricing, or you can dm me for more info. 

I reserve the right to refuse for any reason. 

If you have a problem you would like me to help with, you may email it to me or upload it to my google drive. I ask that you give me a minimum of 24 hours to prepare.  (I doubt it will take me longer than that, but it depends on how many people I am working with). 

I will not do anyone’s assignments for them. I will look at the problems you have submitted to me and get back to you with similar problems, discuss solution strategies, and offer background as necessary. This is  personalized learning, which why I am asking for a minimum of 24 hours to prepare. 

I was observed by someone from the district.

She came in took pictures.

Talked to my kiddos.

Took more pictures.

I think it went great.

We will see what my principal says....

Americans and Cybersecurity - Pew Research Center

Government Printing Office - Atlas Obscura

Governors Put Cybersecurity, Broadband on Front Burner - GCN

Growing Role of Technology in Personalized Learning - Mind/Shift

National Archives Vault - Atlas Obscura

New Online: the George Washington Papers Move to a New Digital Platform - Library of Congress

New Online: the Walt Whitman Papers in The Charles E. Feinberg Collection - Library of Congress

The Original Women's March on Washington and the Suffragists Who Paved the Way - Smithsonian

Studies in the News – a weekly compilation of policy-tested articles and reports compiled by the California Research Bureau

Picture this: It's 7:30 PM, your little one is finally in pajamas (after three costume changes because apparently dinosaur PJs are "too scary" tonight), and you're settling in for bedtime stories. But instead of reaching for the same English picture book you've read 847 times, you grab a Spanish one. Your child's eyes light up as you begin, "Había una vez..."

If you're raising a bilingual child or just want to introduce a second language to your family, bedtime stories are actually one of the most magical ways to do it. And no, you don't need to be fluent in another language to make this work! Here are five amazing benefits of reading bedtime stories in two languages.

1. It Creates Positive Language Associations

Think about it—bedtime is cozy time. It's snuggles, warmth, and feeling safe. When you read stories in a second language during these precious moments, your child starts associating that language with love and comfort, not with homework or "having to learn something." This emotional connection is so much more powerful than any formal language lesson could ever be.

2. It Boosts Cognitive Development

Here's some cool science for you: bilingual children show enhanced executive function, better problem-solving skills, and improved multitasking abilities. When your child's brain switches between languages during story time, they're literally getting a workout! Their little minds are learning to be flexible, to think in different ways, and to make connections between concepts across languages.

3. It Preserves Family Heritage

Maybe your grandmother spoke Italian, or your partner grew up speaking Mandarin. Reading bedtime stories in heritage languages is like giving your child a bridge to their family history. Even if you're not a native speaker yourself, you're showing them that their cultural background is valuable and worth preserving. Plus, kids are surprisingly forgiving of imperfect pronunciation—they just love hearing the rhythm and melody of different languages.

4. It Improves Understanding of Story Structure

When children hear the same types of stories in different languages, they start to understand universal storytelling patterns. They begin to recognize that stories have beginnings, middles, and ends regardless of the language they're told in. This actually makes them better readers and storytellers in both languages! Tools like Living Library make this even easier by creating personalized stories in multiple languages where your child is the main character—talk about keeping them engaged while learning!

5. It Builds Cultural Awareness and Empathy

Stories from different cultures come with different values, traditions, and ways of seeing the world. When your child hears a folktale from Mexico one night and a story from Korea the next, they're developing a more expansive worldview. They're learning that there are many different ways to live, think, and be—and that's pretty beautiful.

But what if you're not bilingual yourself?

Listen, you don't need to be perfectly fluent to make this work! Here are some realistic approaches:

Use books with simple, repetitive text in your target language

Try audio books where you can follow along

Ask bilingual friends or family members to record themselves reading stories

Use translation apps for pronunciation help (just don't stress about being perfect!)

Start with just a few words or phrases in another language within English stories

The key is consistency, not perfection. Even reading in a second language just twice a week can make a huge difference over time.

Making It Personal

Kids are naturally more engaged when they can see themselves in stories. That's why personalized bilingual bedtime stories are such a game-changer—when your little one is the hero of the adventure, they're not just learning a language, they're living it. Living Library creates exactly this kind of magical experience, making bedtime both cozy and educational.

Remember, you're not just teaching language skills—you're opening doors to new worlds, creating beautiful bonding moments, and giving your child gifts that will last a lifetime. Some nights the Spanish story might be a hit, other nights they might prefer English. That's totally normal! The important thing is that you're planting seeds.

Picture this: It's 8 PM, your toddler is finally in pajamas (victory!), and you're settling in for bedtime stories. You grab a book in Spanish because you've been trying to raise your little one bilingual, but they immediately protest: "No, Mama! English book!" Sound familiar?

If you're navigating the beautiful chaos of bilingual parenting, you're not alone in this struggle. Many of us dream of our children effortlessly switching between languages like tiny polyglots, but the reality? It's more like a daily negotiation with a very opinionated small human who has strong opinions about everything, including which language they want to hear at bedtime.

Why Bedtime Stories Are Your Secret Weapon

Here's the thing about bedtime stories and language learning: they're pure magic. When kids are cozy, relaxed, and snuggled up with you, their brains are in the perfect state for absorbing language. Plus, the repetition of nightly reading creates those neural pathways that make language stick.

But beyond the science, bedtime stories in your heritage language create something even more precious: emotional connection. When your child hears lullabies in the same language their grandmother sang, or stories in the tongue you grew up with, you're passing down more than vocabulary. You're sharing your heart, your history, your you.

Making It Stick (Without the Meltdowns)

Let's be real though – sometimes introducing a second language feels like an uphill battle. Here are some tricks that actually work:

Start with familiar stories: Take books they already love and find versions in your target language. The familiarity helps them follow along even when they don't understand every word.

Make it interactive: Ask questions, point to pictures, let them finish sentences they remember. Engagement beats perfection every time.

Don't stress about comprehension: Seriously. They're absorbing sounds, rhythm, and patterns even when it seems like they're not paying attention.

Create positive associations: Make your bilingual story time extra special with a cozy blanket, special stuffed animal, or even a different voice for each language.

The Personal Touch Changes Everything

One game-changer I've discovered? Stories where your child is the main character. There's something magical about hearing their own name woven into adventures in both languages. It makes the non-dominant language feel just as important and exciting as the primary one.

This is where something like Living Library becomes incredible for bilingual families. Having personalized bedtime stories that feature your child as the hero, available in multiple languages, means they get to experience being the star of the story no matter which language you choose that night. It takes away that "English book vs. Spanish book" battle because either way, they're the protagonist.

Keep It Realistic (You're Doing Great)

Can we talk about the pressure for a second? Social media is full of bilingual parenting success stories, but rarely do we hear about the nights when your kid flat-out refuses anything that isn't in English, or when you're too tired to translate and just grab whatever book is closest.

That's okay. Bilingual parenting isn't about perfection – it's about persistence and patience with yourself and your little one. Some nights you'll nail it, other nights you'll read "Goodnight Moon" for the 847th time in English, and both are fine.

Small Steps, Big Dreams

Remember: every story counts. Every lullaby, every silly voice you do while reading, every time you choose to share your language – it all adds up. Your child might not become fluent overnight, but you're planting seeds that will grow throughout their lifetime.

The goal isn't to create a perfect bilingual child (spoiler alert: they don't exist). The goal is to share pieces of your world, your culture, and your love through language. And honestly? Bedtime stories are one of the sweetest ways to do exactly that.