Experienced English And Music Teacher

Hello! My name is Jackie Pennell and I am an experienced English and Music teacher for grades K-12. I currently teach choir and drama at a local middle school, but I have taught students at every age (K-12) and tutored high school students in SAT/ACT English. I have two undergraduate degrees from Trinity College; one in English Literature and one in Music. I also have a Master's degree from CU Boulder in Music Education.

I began my teaching career at a private elementary school in Boston where I taught all classroom subjects including math, history, reading, writing, vocabulary, spelling, handwriting, music, and more! This placement gave me an extensive knowledge of elementary curriculum and the developmental learning needs of K-5 students.

I spent several summers tutoring English, reading, and writing to high school students as well as tutoring SAT/ACT English. In addition, I also tutored elementary math, reading, writing, and music.

I have vast experience with students with additional learning needs. Over the course of my teaching and tutoring career, I have worked extensively with children on the spectrum, as well as children with ADHD. I am confident in my ability to tailor my curriculum and instruction to each child's individual learning needs.

I took a break from classroom teaching to get my Master's degree at CU Boulder. At CU, I learned about culturally responsive teaching, how to adjust curriculum for various learning styles, methods of scaffolding and instruction, and more. My courses and field experience provided me with the necessary skills to help students succeed in their learning.

I am confident that my education and teaching experience will allow me to be an excellent instructor for your child. Because I am currently teaching middle school, I am well aware of the challenges of hybrid and online schooling. I have extensive knowledge of online platforms such as Google Classroom, Pear Deck, Flipgrid, etc. since I use all of these platforms in my own teaching.

I have always been passionate about reading, writing, and literature. My love for English Literature began in middle school when I could always be seen reading through the halls. I took AP English every possible year in high school, wrote creative stories, edited all of my friends papers, and continued my studies in college. I received my degree in English Literature from Trinity College and went on to teach vocabulary, spelling, reading, and writing to elementary students at a private school in Boston. I created and instructed lessons for these students on research papers, critical thinking, literary analysis, creative writing, literary devices, grammar and syntax, and more. I also tutored high school and middle school students in creative and persuasive writing, SAT/ACT English, and reading. I have many methods of instruction for essay-writing and reading comprehension, so I am confident in my abilities to help students at all levels.

I have an undergraduate degree in Music as well as a Master's degree in Music Education. Not only do I have numerous years of experience teaching music, I also have extensive performance training. I am a studied vocalist and pianist and have participated in multiple choirs and musicals. I have conducted both children's choirs and collegiate choirs. I have taken courses on music theory, world music, music history, music technology as well as music pedagogy and teaching. My students say that I make singing fun and approachable. I believe that everyone can sing and enjoy music at all levels and I adapt my lessons to my students' abilities and goals.

I am currently teaching middle school and truly understand how challenging the hybrid and online learning experience can be for both students and parents.

I am available to help you navigate your online work, make up work you did understand or complete, develop study and time management skills, prepare for school exams or the SAT/ACT, and more! I am qualified to teach several subjects and grades outside of my main subjects of English and Music (including elementary school math and Algebra I), so please see my full list of approved subjects.

I truly make an effort to make the student's learning experience enjoyable and worthwhile. I will work with each student to find out which methods work best and lead to success.

I have many afternoons free after my own teaching day ends and I have two mornings a week with a few hours open. I am also available most Sundays. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

One of my strengths as a teacher is my ability to form positive relationships with my students. I strive to get to know each of my students and plan my instruction based on their specific needs. I work with both students and parents to set goals and make clear plans with leveled steps to achieve these goals. I have numerous teaching strategies that allow me to successfully teach aural, visual, and kinesthetic learners.