Susan Robertson
Ferndale,WA
Summary
Dynamic educator with proven expertise in individualized instruction and problem-solving, honed across roles including Kindergarten Teacher at Bellingham Christian School. Excelled in enhancing student performance through innovative activity-based learning and robust student and parent relations. Skilled in verbal communication, consistently fostering confidence and motivation in diverse learning environments.
Overview
41
41
years of professional experience
Work History
Private Tutor
Self Employed
01.2000 - Current
- Collaborated with students to complete homework assignments, identify lagging skills, and correct weaknesses.
- Met with parents to discuss student progress and address concerns.
- Used positive reinforcement, repetition, and review to help students master challenging material.
- Empowered students with essential study skills such as note-taking, test preparation strategies, and effective research methods.
- Taught students remotely using online video chat platform and other delivery channels.
- Offered one-on-one and small group instruction to foster opportunities for flexible and differentiated learning.
- Strengthened students'' critical thinking abilities by developing problem-solving exercises and activities.
- Developed individualized lesson plans tailored to each student''s unique learning needs and goals.
Kindergarten Teacher
Bellingham Christian School
08.1996 - Current
- Built positive relationships with students and families for safe, trusted learning support.
- Enhanced classroom management by establishing clear expectations, rules, and routines.
- Assisted in creating a safe and nurturing classroom environment that promoted emotional well-being and academic growth for all students.
- Collaborated with colleagues to share resources, brainstorm ideas, and problem-solve challenges faced in the classroom environment.
- Implemented differentiated instruction strategies to meet the diverse learning needs of all students.
- Promoted learning through play with engaging activities, games and lessons.
- Promoted a positive learning environment with the use of collaborative group work and hands-on activities.
- Delivered lesson plans, implemented school curriculum and used data to create, monitor, and establish personalized learning plan for each student.
- Improved student reading skills by implementing phonics-based instruction and guided reading activities.
- Recognized children's physical, emotional and social needs for personalized support.
- Utilized assessment data to modify instruction and target areas of weakness for individual students.
- Developed strong relationships with families to address any concerns or issues impacting student success.
- Increased parent involvement through regular communication, parent-teacher conferences, and workshops.
- Monitored and evaluated student progress through regular assessments and observations.
- Supported students in developing social skills through structured activities and positive reinforcement techniques.
- Played games with students to increase understanding of subjects.
- Reported to parents and administration about student progress.
- Evaluated student progress regularly through formative assessments to inform instructional decisions.
- Exercised good classroom management focused on positive behavior support by clearly articulating fair and consistent expectations along with appropriate natural consequences.
- Served as a mentor for new teachers, providing guidance on lesson planning, classroom management, and instructional strategies.
- Identified characteristics, needs, abilities, and problems of each child through personal interaction and progress reports to optimize approaches.
- Assisted in curriculum development to align lessons with state standards and improve overall instructional quality.
- Implemented behavior modification strategies, resulting in improved self-regulation and classroom participation among students.
- Collaborated with teachers and therapists to develop individualized educational plans for each student, ensuring optimal progress.
- Provided one-on-one support for students with learning disabilities, enabling them to excel in their coursework.
- Enhanced learning experiences by incorporating specialized tools and resources tailored to the needs of special education students.
1st and 2nd Grade Teacher
Three Lakes Christian School
08.1983 - 06.1984
- Assisted in creating a safe and nurturing classroom environment that promoted emotional well-being and academic growth for all students.
- Supported students in developing social skills through structured activities and positive reinforcement techniques.
- Provided one-on-one support for students with learning disabilities, enabling them to excel in their coursework.
- Implemented behavior modification strategies, resulting in improved self-regulation and classroom participation among students.
- Collaborated with teachers and therapists to develop individualized educational plans for each student, ensuring optimal progress.
- Enhanced learning experiences by incorporating specialized tools and resources tailored to the needs of special education students.
- Utilized assessment tools to monitor student progress, adjust instruction, and inform future planning.
- Developed strong parent-teacher relationships to support collaborative efforts in advancing student progress.
- Incorporated hands-on learning opportunities such as lab experiments, art projects, and interactive games for deeper engagement with course material.
- Integrated cross-curricular connections to enhance the depth of understanding in both 1st and 2nd-grade subjects.
- Continuously adapted teaching methods based on ongoing evaluation of student performance, ensuring optimal success for all learners in both 1st and 2nd-grade classrooms.
- Cultivated critical thinking skills by encouraging students to ask questions, analyze information, and draw conclusions.
- Implemented effective classroom management techniques to maintain an orderly and focused learning setting.
- Promoted a positive learning environment by establishing clear expectations and fostering mutual respect among students.
- Supported the development of social-emotional skills through conflict resolution strategies and character education lessons.
- Provided extra help during after-school tutoring sessions, targeting specific skill gaps for increased achievement.
- Enhanced reading comprehension through the implementation of innovative literacy strategies and group reading activities.
- Boosted student confidence by providing positive reinforcement and constructive feedback.
- Differentiated instruction for diverse learners, accommodating various learning styles and individual needs.
- Collaborated with colleagues to share best practices, align curriculum goals, and ensure consistency across grade levels.
- Established open communication and positive relationships with students, parents, peers, and administrative staff.
- Provided warm, supportive environment for developing academic, social, and emotional growth.
- Created lesson plans to correlate with state curriculum standards and devised educational programs to meet educational objectives.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education
Prairie Bible College
Three Hills, Alberta Canada04.1983
Skills
- Verbal and written communication
- Problem-solving skills
- Individualized Instruction
- Homework Assistance
- Performance Tracking
- Activity-Based Learning
- Learning Styles
- Organization
- Study strategies
- Confidence building
- Student and parent relations
- Motivation Techniques
Timeline
Private Tutor
Self Employed
01.2000 - Current
Kindergarten Teacher
Bellingham Christian School
08.1996 - Current
1st and 2nd Grade Teacher
Three Lakes Christian School
08.1983 - 06.1984
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education
Prairie Bible College