Teacher Lily Stark
About
Hello! I am very pleased to offer tutoring in a variety of subjects from which I have had the opportunity to teach throughout my 8 years of educating in the Portland Metro area. Starting my teaching in the visual and physical arts I quickly shifted to the STE(A)M field of focus while working at Starbase Oregon in the east and west school districts of Portland. I then helped start a small STEAM education program in the west hills called XSTREAM where students between kindergarten and 8th grade could find resources, improve their skills, and build confidence in a wide range of subjects being studied at school. This program focused on providing individualized support for students as they worked through assignments and projects.
My years of experience building curriculum to address the wide range of needs students have in and out of the classroom make me an excellent tutor. I am capable of adapting lesson plans to bring forth the level of energy and material each student needs. My focus is on how to best bridge the relationship between desired outcomes and the goals each student has for their own education. I have learned that this balance is key to increasing engagement in learning and improving each student's experience.
If it is not already clear, I love to teach and am passionate about being the most present and patient educator I can be for every person I interact with.
It could be the days that are smooth and provide a lot of bursting "aha!" moments, but if I'm honest...my favorite days are the ones full of hard work. Where students felt frustrated by the subject or how they felt as they worked at a problem. And yet, I was there to see them try anyway.
Watching a student push themselves to succeed shows me and more importantly themselves, just how capable they are of doing really difficult things. It's that bravery that hat keeps me showing up, even when it's extremely hard for me too.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Such an important aspect of building a relationship with a student. When it comes to working with Teacher Lily, you will be my priority. We will begin by discussing what *you* hope to get out of your tutoring experience. That is our focus. And I will offer tidbits about myself as needed to enhance the understanding of a problem when possible. This usually provides for my building of trust. If I have your permission, I may ask about your schooling and lifestyle (hobbies, pets, summer plans....etc).
I will also, with the opportunity, address the guardian providing for this tutoring and what hopes and expectations they have for the tutoring. If this occurs, the student and I will talk about those elements too, and see how we can blend those into our session.
I will close by asking you (the student/guardian if available) to help me create an outline for our next session if you chose to have one. This will give me a better sense of what you are looking for from me as your educator and I will build curriculum around that for the future.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Eight years educating in STEAM with k-8th grade students.
Curriculum development, classroom teaching, and program directing experience.
Some training in the Reggio Emilia approach, the Waldorf approach, and the Montessori approach.
Immense training in hands-on flipped-classroom style teaching. Where the experience (or experiment) comes first, and discovery (lead by students) takes us to discussions and a deeper understanding by the time lecture begins.
Experience teaching: robotics, CAD (using CREO-PTC), and 3D printing, app-design including Scratch.
FIRST robotics coach.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge a flat rate of 35 an hour.
*I offer a slightly lower cost on a case-by-case base (usually if a student and their guardians sign an agreement to tutor with me for a set period of time).
How did you get started teaching?
I was a swimmer and loved to dance and run around as a kid.
Once a little older a teacher encouraged me to try some teaching at the end of a dance class and I loved it! I started my own afterschool dance workshop in highschool (for the elementary and middle school nearby) and I worked as a swim instructor through the summers.
After that, it was a natural fit to pursue in college. And I've been teaching ever since!
What types of students have you worked with?
I have had the pleasure of working with students from all over the world. Newly moved to the country students. Just starting a new hard math class students. Trying to get on a FIRST robotics team students. Enjoying one part of school but struggling with another students. Students with special and unique needs. Students with different and diverse abilities. Students who are incredible and just haven't quite built up the confidence to show it (yet)!
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
I would recommend you think of a teacher or educator that you have had who you liked. What did you like about them? Where they funny? Did they make things make sense? Where they supportive when you were struggling? Did they cut you a break when you needed one?
If you can't think of anything, that's great information for a future teacher or tutor to know as well! Saying something like "I don't think I've ever had a very good experience" can really help someone there to help you get where you're coming from.
Also, be honest. If it doesn't feel right. It won't be right. Your gut knows.