Grade Levels
Elementary School
Tutoring Specialties
ADD & ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, EL (English Learners), Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Gifted/Advanced population, Learning Disabilities, Students with varying disabilities, Tiered Support
Bio
Hi! My name is Dawn Firak and I love being an educator! With over 20 years of experience in elementary education, I've mastered the secret to keeping K-5 students engaged and learning through multisensory experiences. Every student learns differently, which is why I meet my students exactly where they are and tailor my teaching to match their unique energy, personality, and interests. I believe learning should be joyful, build curiosity, and have a sense of wonder! Using interactive games, storytelling, and visual aids, keep young minds completely engaged. My strong background in arts education allows me to weave music, drawing, and movement into our lessons, creating a warm, welcoming safe space where mistakes are just part of the discovery! Together, we won't just build academic skills—we will build your student's confidence, curiosity, and joy for a lifetime of learning!
Teacher Specialization
I specialize in cross-curricular tutoring, blending music and the arts into the core academic subjects to make complex, abstract concepts highly engaging, memorable, and fun! I hold a Bachelor's of Education in Music from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Master's of Music Education from Northern Illinois University. I completed my K-9 Elementary Education endorsement at Roosevelt University in 2012. I obtained National Board Certification in Early and Middle Childhood Music in 2018. I am certified to teach K-5 Elementary Education and K-12 Music Education. I currently work at Missouri Digital Academy as their 3rd-5th grade music teacher.
Courses
1st Grade English Language Arts, 1st Grade Math, 1st Grade Science, 1st Grade Social Studies, 2nd Grade English Language Arts, 2nd Grade Math, 2nd Grade Science, 2nd Grade Social Studies, 3rd Grade English Language Arts, 3rd Grade Math, 3rd Grade Science, 3rd Grade Social Studies, 4th Grade English Language Arts, 4th Grade Math, 4th Grade Science, 4th Grade Social Studies, 5th Grade English Language Arts, 5th Grade Math, 5th Grade Science, 5th Grade Social Studies, Elementary Reading, Kindergarten English Language Arts, Kindergarten Science, Kindergarten Social Studies
