PrepNow Tutor - Ella M.
Ella M. is a trained professional in the medical field who has developed a parallel passion for education. Since earning her BA in biological chemistry and Spanish from Grinnell College, Ella has, in fact, worked in both these fields that she loves. First, she worked for an emergency department and in a physical medicine and rehabilitation unit as a medical scribe. Thereafter, she worked for years as a high school teacher, offering classes in chemistry, physical science, earth science, and biology. In addition, she worked with Upward Bound, teaching chemistry, biology, and a math class that covered geometry, AP statistics, calculus I, and calculus II. As she now pursues graduate work in the medical field, she is excited to continue to work as an educator as well.
Ella calls her tutoring style warm and relaxed. She feels that modelling such a presence places students at ease and helps them be more open immediately to learning. In addition, she seeks never to be too prescriptive in her instruction; rather, she invites students to become active and willing participants in the process. She says, “I really emphasize having students try problems and sharing their ideas, even when the students are not certain they are correct. I then lead with open questions to fully understand what the students are thinking and help them navigate their way toward answers.” Along the way, of course, students and she may be wrong, but Ella knows that getting things wrong is an important part of finding success.
Outside of teaching, Ella has always been very active. In high school, she played soccer, hockey, ran track, and did Nordic skiing. Then, in college, she began playing ultimate Frisbee, something she has since continued to play at the club level and even at the professional level as part of the Premier Ultimate League. Ella also loves to camp and backpack and keeps even more active keeping up with the dogs she fosters for a local organization.
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