The Writing & Learning Studio (TWLS)

Tutoring

MEET THE LEARNING ASSISTANTS
(presented in order of length of service)

As you'll see below, TWLS is fortunate to have a cadre of very experienced learning assistants who bring with them their own love of learning and their genuine desire to help others in the learning process. During any hour the Center is open, one, two, or three of these talented individuals are working:

JANA: I started working in The Writing & Learning Studio in January, 1995. During my high school years and college education at the University of Washington, I always took great pleasure in helping students with reading, writing and math. The wide variety of elective classes I have taken enables me to assist with writing in different disciplines. Since graduating from the UW in 1991, with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and a minor in English, I have continued to thoroughly enjoy assisting students to build a strong foundation for education and improve skills for more extensive learning in the future. Reading and writing can be fun as well as tremendously important life skills.

MARGARETE: I have been working in TWLS since September 1996. I earned my B.A. degree in English with a minor in elementary education from the University of Northern Colorado in 1995. It is very enjoyable and fulfilling working in TWLS because of the continual opportunities to help students succeed as writers.

MELANIE: My work as a Learning Assistant here at The Writing and Learning Studio is the most rewarding, inspiring job I’ve ever had. Not only do I get to support student learning at all levels, but I have the opportunity to facilitate students’ expression of their unique ideas, stories, and perspectives. As a lover of literature and language, I feel excited and honored to participate in others’ first steps in these academic subjects.
   In 2000, I began tutoring in The Writing and Learning Studio. Four years later I graduated from UW-Bothell with a B.A. in Culture, Literature, and the Arts. I have worked in two college writing centers, taught a community ESL class, and taught reading and writing to young Korean-American students at an after-school learning center. As a fiction writer, I also know how invaluable community and reader feedback is to writing. I belong to a writing group where I receive input from fellow writers, and I see my work in TWLS as an extension of this community involvement.

JACKIE: I began tutoring at The Writing & Learning Studio in the spring of 2005 after two quarters of volunteering in the ESL department here at Shoreline Community College. After completing a master's degree at the University of Washington in 1991, I worked in medical research for several years. I have always loved language, and I am currently working toward a second master's degree, this time in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), at Seattle Pacific University. I enjoy helping students from many countries work to improve their writing and other English language skills.

BOB: Hi everybody, my name is Robert "Bob" Holler, and I'm a new LA in The Writing & Learning Studio at SCC (started January, 2006). Let me tell you a little about myself. I was born and raised in New York. My college background was Secondary Education with a History Major. I have an Associate of Arts Degree from York Junior College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from York College of Pennsylvania. Also, I spent four years with the U.S. Air Force working in Medical Administration. I look forward to working with each and every one of you. We'll have a good time! Bob.

ELIZABETH: I received my Bachelor of Arts from Boston University and a Masters Degree in Education from Columbia University Teachers College. Later in life, I obtained an A.A.S. degree in Horticultural Technology in order to pursue a hobby as a career. I have taught elementary school, managed the horticultural department for a garden center and performed customer service duties in the corporate world. I am looking forward to helping students acquire the writing skills that will assist them in pursuing their academic, professional and personal goals.

MARY: I began tutoring in the fall quarter of 2006, and I am quite familiar with the The Writing & Learning Studio. It was my mainstay while I was enrolled in English 101 and 102. In fact, I was conjointly enrolled in TWLS’s credit courses (English 089 & 099) to beef up my study skills, get the most out of text books, and strengthen my grammar and composition skills following a 20-year hiatus from school. I was delighted to find that while studying in TWLS, my confidence and skills in English flourished, and I also enjoyed and appreciated the help freely offered by the learning assistants. Hence, I decided to become a student learning assistant and enrolled in the tutor education course, EDUC199. Encouraging students to master their English skills and to build confidence in their ability is very gratifying and meaningful to me. I believe mastering writing brings rewards and builds confidence in all areas of life: home, work, school, and community.
   I lived internationally, both in Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands, from 1995-2001. I loved the privilege of living and conversing with an international community, and I thrived on the mutual exchange of culture and language. Currently enrolled here at Shoreline as a transfer student in psychology, I am also involved in the Snohomish County Search & Rescue K-9 unit, and love to hike, bike, swim and quilt.

RICK: Hello everybody, my name is Rick Hodsdon, and I’d like to tell you a little about myself. Two years ago I decided to change careers after 30-plus years in business, in order to follow my true calling – teaching. I started by mentoring and tutoring young students enrolled in the Japanese immersion classes at John Stanford International School.
   I joined The Writing and Learning Studio as a Learning Assistant in spring quarter, 2007, to work with Shoreline’s wonderfully diverse mix of students. I am currently enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Seattle Pacific University, working towards a Secondary Certification in History/Social Studies.
   In addition to being an avid reader of fiction – particularly historical novels – I enjoy reading books and articles about history and current events. My other interests include classical music and theater, travel, and growing vegetables in our home garden. My educational resume’ includes a BA in Asian Studies/Japan from the School of International Service at American University, in Washington, DC, and an MA in Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, as well as a year of post-graduate studies at the University of Washington.
   I look forward to working with you!

MATT: I began working in the TWLS during winter quarter of 2008, while a student at SCC. I hope to finish my B.A. at the UW, focusing on journalism. After that, I plan on studying law. Prior to attending SCC, I spent four years in the U.S. Coast Guard, sailing three times to Antarctica. I first cut my writing teeth on procedural documents and formal correspondence for the military, but have come to enjoy writing in many styles. I am working in the TWLS because I love seeing individuals grow as writers.