More About Me, Ilana!

In 2018, I moved to Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, in search of a change of scenery. I knew that, as I spent a lot of time going to and from work, I wanted to be closer to the ocean and have a mountain view. My daughter, who loves to laugh, graduated from college with her animation diploma and was immediately hired by a studio in Vancouver. My younger daughter, whose name means "lion," was excited to come along with me on this adventure.

I have always been passionate about teaching and helping students who do not receive enough support within the system. I enjoy reading, listening to podcasts during my hour-long drives to and from work, exploring hidden and quiet places by the ocean, and visiting my local farmer's market. I also have two dogs who keep me company, as well as friends and neighbors both in my community and online.
The inspiration for Laughing Lion Learning Connections came from a flyer that the amazing secretary at my school received from a local family searching for a tutor for their sons. She knew that I was a single mom, just starting my career, and saved the flyer for me. Since then, I have been tutoring at-risk students of all ages and grades. Initially, I began doing it for the money, but I found that I was learning so much from it as well. Most of the students I worked with were elementary-aged boys who had ADHD and other learning challenges, and their parents were overwhelmed by the workings of the education system.

Over time, as my experience with students with individualized education plans (IEPs) expanded, I found myself becoming an advocate for these students and working to support them in every way possible. I also became the teacher in my grade who worked with the most students with IEPs. In addition, I developed my math teaching expertise and my own unique teaching style. I learned that mental math is essential, and that memorizing algorithms is not always the best way to understand math. Finally, I discovered that allowing students to use multiplication charts or a calculator is not a failure on anyone's part.

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