Suzanne Spence

I probably sounds like an exaggeration to say that my teaching journey started in my childhood. However, that's the truth. Here is the story:

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I spent the first half of my childhood watching my mother fill the roll of an incredible homemaker, and the second half of my childhood watching her work as a highly effective Primary School Teacher. Although I couldn't have put it into words at the time, a shift happened in our home. She suddenly had very little to no extra time outside of holidays and summer. While I don't blame her for following her own dreams, the dual experience of my childhood education has afforded me the deep rooted belief that a large portion of students thrive more easily outside of the classroom setting. While my sister had adjusted quite well to having less of our mother's time, I had struggled to adjust to the newness and fast-paced nature of learning exclusively from my classroom teacher. After being diagnosed with ADHD in 1st grade, dyslexia in 4th grade, and continuing to struggle with keeping pace with my peers, I eventually arrived at one conclusion: I must be dumb!

 

This did not deter me, however! As I grew older, I found that I loved spending time teaching children what I knew. I had a heart for the students that felt the way that I had, and wanted to teach them how to love learning like I had as well! However, I realize now in hindsight that I had never learned to love learning while in school. I grew to love learning by reading! Reading had been a struggle for me for a long time, to the point that it was discussed between my parents and teachers that I may need to repeat a grade. This caused my mother to start working with me herself again, after school and on the weekends. Two years went by where she continued to work with me intensely. By the end of 6th grade, not only was I caught up in reading, I was reading several grades ahead! By middle school I was enjoying 12th grade works of classic literature, and devouring any books I could! My mother, as she should have been, was proud of the both of us! However, this experience has only made me believe more deeply that children learn best from their parents--especially the love of learning itself!​

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I began my teaching career brimming with enthusiasm! I envisioned each day filled with excitement and meaningful connections with my students. However, after four years, I discovered that in spite of my best efforts most students remained unhappy and unmotivated regarding learning; it was a chore for them, and nothing more. I began to recall my own experiences as a child, and found similarities. I noticed that those who were intrinsically motivated often spent more quality time with their families, which helped nurture their internal drive to learn. I realized that traditional teaching methods couldn't fully address the need for this deeper, intrinsic motivation. However, I also had to acknowledge that not all parents had the skills my mother had as a teacher.

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Knowing these two truths, I decided to step away from the classroom and embrace a new path as a Literacy Acquisition Tutor! In this role, I focus on teaching reading and writing—skills that require specialized knowledge—while also working to coach parents in how to create intrinsic motivation and a learning environment at home. I now have the opportunity to teach students literacy while also coaching families in creating a nurturing and motivating learning environment at home. If you're a parent involved in homeschooling, hybrid schooling, or online education and want assistance with your child's reading, writing, or academic motivation, I’m here to help. Let’s connect and collaborate to enhance your child’s learning journey!​​​