1st lesson free
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Kevin
- Price $45
- Answer 1h
$45/h
Contact
1st lesson free
- English
- Literacy
- Creative writing
- Writing
- Poetry
21st century skills educator available to help secondary and post-secondary learners in improving their communication and media skills. I have over a decade of experience in non-traditional education
- English
- Literacy
- Creative writing
- Writing
- Poetry
Lesson location
About Kevin
I've been a lifelong learner and teacher since I can remember. If I saw a classmate struggling with a concept, I had a knack for picking up on what they weren't understanding and would brave the inevitable taunting of peers to ask my teacher the question that would clear up my classmate's confusion. I was a voracious reader from an early age, and scored sooooo many personal pan pizzas from summer reading programs at the local library as a kid. After childhood, I regularly became the go-to at work for explaining things or introducing new concepts to colleagues. I continue to be passionate about learning and sharing what I learn with others.
In grade school, I was usually top of my class and an odd combination of teacher's pet and class clown. However, as an angry high schooler with a less than ideal home life, I ended up dropping out of high school my senior year and joining the U.S. Air Force (after picking up a few college credits at the local community college). Because of my struggles in adolescence, I make an intentional effort to try to make the often difficult middle and high school years less awful for others whenever able.
My higher education journey has included completing four degrees, including three with grade point averages I was actually proud of. I started my graduate degree in education while working at an after-school BGCA and 4-H affiliated U.S. Army youth center and completed the program with a respectable 3.93 G.P.A. in April of 2024. I've previously obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts in 2014, an Associates of Applied Science in Digital Media Design Technologies in 2004, and an Associate of Arts. Though I agree with criticisms that higher education is no longer the pathway to gainful employment that it once was, I still find value in a well-rounded education. As someone who's been reading at a college level since 5th grade, I continue to be shocked at how many of my colleagues in graduate school were writing at a 6th grade level. Though I'm quick to switch linguistic use and complexity to match the circumstance ("I r rite guuder, lulz"), I do think it's useful to learn "proper" formal English in order to more succinctly convey information.
I'm a huge nerd, especially for stories and the media used to make them. I'm a sucker for a good graphic novel, show, video game, song, or story in whatever medium. I'm proud to be able to say that I've worked as a videographer for multiple hip-hop festivals, I've shared the stage with nationally respected slam poets, and I've taught media literacy and documentary film making to inner city high school students. I love working with and around diverse peoples whose lived experiences are often very different from my own.
As for teaching, I LOATHE rows of desks and many of the trappings of "traditional" American schools. I think a hands-on "practical" approach is much more interesting for most learners, and try to find ways to integrate what is being learned into contexts and situations directly tied to the interests of students. I have a combined decade of teaching in non-traditional (primarily after school) programs, with an emphasis on hands-on / experiential learning and 21st century skills development.
In general, I'm a very open person and value transparency and honesty. I'm knowledgeable in a number of subject areas, but am quick to admit when I'm unfamiliar with a topic. I love finding interesting and meaningful ways to use words, and am comfortable with code-switching. I frequently utilize code-switching, accents, and intonation to emphasize points or for humor. Having completed TOEFL teacher training, I'm happy to work with people seeking to develop a more nuanced understanding of the English language.
Best of luck to you on your learning adventures!
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About the lesson
- Early childhood education
- Primary School
- High School
- +7
levels :
Early childhood education
Primary School
High School
Year 10
Year 11-12
Year 12
Adult
TAFE
Diploma/Certificate
PhD
- English
All languages in which the lesson is available :
English
I prefer a casual student-lead experiential approach informed by 21st century skills development techniques. In other words, I try to help people learn what they want or need to learn by encouraging them to practice activities and skills similar to those used for a job or personal project while trying to consider broader social contexts along with digital tool utilization.
For a student interested in telling stories, this may entail creating an original idea for a short film, writing the story or script, storyboarding or planning the shots, making the video, then posting it to YouTube or submitting it to film festivals.
Regardless of communication medium (i.e. spoken, written, other media)m critical analysis of the approach, process, and outcome is vital to improving. This means open and honest discussion and feedback done in good faith is necessary, and may not always be positive. Embracing failure is vital, and a great learning tool when examined critically.
One of the foundations of my pedagogy is that better learning is facilitated through genuine caring relationships. I like to get to know my students on a personal level so I can better adapt my approach to their interests and personality. I want anyone I work with to succeed and feel more confident in themselves, and for them to know I'm "on their side." Any student I work with will be challenged to further their critical thinking skills by questioning themselves, their beliefs, and their world as they learn. Different people have different contexts and reasons for how they view and process things, and being able to examine some of these different perspectives helps student better understand the how and why of any subject matter they approach.
I like working with students who want to become lifelong learners of any age, and showing that learning can be fun. The bulk of my formal educational experience has been with high school students, but I'm open to working with adolescent through adult learners. I've worked extensively with inner-city youth, military youth, LGBTQIA+ people, and various "at risk" youth in my decade of teaching and mentoring.
If you want to learn to be a better communicator, feel free to reach out.
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Rates
Price
- $45
Pack prices
- 5h: $226
- 10h: $451
online
- $45/h
free lessons
The first lesson with Kevin will allow you to get to know each other and discuss your needs for future lessons.
- 1hr
Details
Currently offering a temporary low introductory rate of $30 per hour on this new platform for remote (webcam) learners. Hit me up before it goes up!
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