Math Tutoring With Miss Stefany

Every time I meet a new student, one of their first questions is always, "So what do I call you?" They call their teachers Mr. So-and-So and Mrs. Such-n-Such. They call their adult family members Aunt This and Uncle That. Some adults in their community like to be called by their first names and others by a respectful old school standard. Naturally, kids are confused. Here's what I tell them.

 

Some kids like to call me Mrs. Smith because it's comfortable. Some call me Stefany because they think of me as a friend. Most call me Miss Stefany because it's a mixture of both. But please, whatever you do, don't call me Tutor, or The Tutor!! :)

 

So, Miss Stefany it usually is!

I started teaching about 19 years ago. But this wasn't a normal teaching career. I was a young mom who wanted the best for my little person, and I read to her every day. We played games and sang songs, and I researched learning styles and teaching strategies. She was reading and doing math problems at age 3, and I decided that my way HAD to be better than what our schools had to offer.

 

Within 5 years I had 4 little ones, and we loved learning together. We joined homeschool cooperatives, where I taught preschool skills, Math, and History/Social Studies (I also led a few Bible classes).

In 2007 it became apparent that my family needed a better income, so I decided to go back to school. It was easy to decide that I wanted to pursue a teaching career. I knew it wasn't the best paying career choice, but it's something always in demand and I loved doing it! So I embarked on an adventure. 4 years later, after obtaining a bachelors degree in Social Science with a concentration in education, I decided I did NOT want to pursue a Masters and state teaching certificate.

 

Some might question this decision, but hear me out! 

My children were, at this point, between 7 and 12. There was at least 10 more years of their schooling that I planned on leading. A full time teaching career would jeopardize my ability to do what was best for my kids. Many women are ok with making that decision, but I am not one of them. So I decided to put that career plan on the back burner and find ways to use my degree to help my family, and still be available to my children.

 

It didn't take me long to find out that tutoring was a good choice. I could work in the evenings (and even during the daytime when my kids had other things going on). I could be my own boss and accept clients based on their need and my ability to deliver. Win win!