Common Core and ACT Writing tutor

About Alyson

I'm Alyson Barrett, a 2018 Single-Subject Biology teacher candidate. I hold a Bachelor's in Biology from Williams College, a prestigous liberal arts school. I am getting my credential in Single-Subject Biology and have my CSETS in English and Biology. I have worked as a tutor and an Instructional Aide in all subjects for high school students.

I live in Huntington Beach, which is the northernmost part of Orange County. I've worked with kids since high school in coaching and tutoring capacities and while working as an aide in a high school last year, I realized I have never felt more comfortable or capable than teaching all kinds of students in a high school setting. That was when I decided I would go for it and get my credential. I also come from a family of teachers who have taught me well. My father, aunt and cousins are all excellent teachers who have collectively worked with children of all ages and all learning difficulties. I have observed them in classrooms all of my life, and I always try to embody their patience, persistence and love for learning.

I create a culture in my classroom where students recognize it is easy to get things wrong and it's the first step towards getting it right. I don't have a specific learning style, but I understand all of them. This enables me to employ a Universal Design for learning by incorporating many hands-on activities (active learning), diagrams and videos (visual learning), drawing connections to other material (intuitive learning) and explaining how all the concepts we cover fit together (global learning). I can easily identify where and why students may have problems with a concept and find a way to supplement it in the opposite direction.

I understand students who struggle to be motivated in school, and I specialize in building their confidence. I want to be the stepping stone toward their greater potential because I know great things await them if they can get the help they need.