Fun Facts

I've recently taken up kickboxing! It's so much fun, makes me feel empowered, and it's a killer workout.

I paint, acrylics on canvas. Mostly landscapes, some still art, some word art.

I love to read. I read usually 3-4 books per week. I adore thrillers. The most recent book I've read, just finished last night, was Night Film. It was beautiful and haunting, and one of the best things I've ever had the privilege of reading.

I love to bake! I spent a few months in pastry school before deciding I was much happier studying education. But I still bake usually at least once a week. Cupcakes are my specialty!

I am an Alpha Xi Delta. Our work with Autism Speaks has really opened my eyes to children with disabilities, and it's helped me grow a lot.

About Me

Hello, my name is Gabrielle! I'm 21 years old, and a transfer student at DePaul University. Previously I was at University of Iowa, but had to take some time off due to a few surgeries I had to have. I'm starting back at school now, and I couldn't be more excited! I grew up in Glencoe, IL. I have a sixteen year old younger brother. I'm a huge hockey fan (go Blackhawks!). I love to read, write, paint, exercise (kickboxing, pilates, bikram yoga), bake, and spend time with my friends.

I'm studying elementary education, ideally I think I want to teach second or third grade. I love working with children. There's something really incredible when a student just gets it. Maybe they've been struggling with something for a while, but at some point they have this turning point where it absolutely clicks. It's an indescribable feeling to know that I've had a part in that. Seeing a student be truly proud of themselves over something they've learned makes all of the challenges worth it. I'm really outgoing. I'm energetic, and like to be active. I want to have fun in everything that I do. There is no reason learning can't be something to truly enjoy. I'm responsible, and perpetually early to everything (it drives my friends crazy haha!). Most importantly, I'm patient and compassionate. Yelling, snapping at people, conflict get you nowhere. Where it relates to children, I've found that kids aren't going to work any faster or harder or better if you tell them in a harsher manner, if anything that just shuts them down. I prefer to work with them on a mentor/almost older sibling level. Someone they can feel comfortable expressing their concerns to, and we can share in the excitement that comes with learning something new.

2006-2010: Independently tutored 4 students (ages 5, 6, 10, 12 at time of starting chicago">tutoring). 2 of those students were siblings who had come from Mexico and spoke very little English. I met with them for an hour a day, 5 days a week for 4 years. Within a year, they were caught up with their classmates in reading and writing. That experience is what I'm most proud of in my life.

2008-2010: Ran a chicago">tutoring group for low income students in Rogers Park. Took students from my high school to work with these elementary school students 1x/week for two years.

2011-2013: 100+ hours of field work in 1st, 3rd and 7th/8th grade classrooms.

2012-2013: Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sister Iowa program, some chicago">tutoring as well as just spending time with my "little sis".

2011-2012: Worked with a few other students from my college to chicago">tutor/play educational games with local elementary school students in Iowa, 2x/week for a year.

2010-2013: Unofficial, but I'm the one that my sorority sisters send their papers to to help edit them.

I've learned that all children learn differently. I don't have a singular approach. I sit down with the parents, and contact the student's teachers, and talk about what they're looking for. I do the same with the student, and set concrete, achievable goals - whether that be reading for x amount of time every night, finishing all homework every day, or getting a certain test score. I believe in making learning fun. In the past, I've taught math/money skills by taking a child to a grocery store, giving him five dollars, and making him figure out how to spend it, and what his change and total should be. I've made board games, picture boards and illustrated short stories with students. Sitting at a table going over paper for hours gets boring. We accomplish what needs to be done, but in a more exciting way. An incentive program for students who have a hard time completing homework or applying him or herself. I've found that the key to becoming a good reader is finding books that the child really likes and can get caught up in. Spending a day at the library to find these kinds of books is important. Above all else, I believe in patience, and a lot of it. My younger brother has struggled with learning disabilities, and what's helped him to succeed is working with a chicago">tutor with great patience. Students will get things wrong, they will have bad days. It's important that they know that they are smart, and they will succeed, such as long as they continue to try.