Tara Armour

Experience

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  Rosedale Rapids Aquatic Center

  May 2009 - Aug 2014

  Lifeguard and Swimming Lessons Instructor

  I worked with managers and co-workers as a Lead Guard to maintain a safe and family-oriented environment for all patrons. I attended regular trainings to stay up-to-date on park protocol, backboarding procedures, and CPR/AED certifications. In my final year as a guard, I also worked as aswimming lessons instructor to teach basic swimming and safety skills to Level 2 students (ages 5-7).

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  FORT DODGE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND UNITED WAY

  May 2012 - Aug 2012

  Research and Writing Intern

  I worked as an intern to research and write content for the Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way's "Joy of Reading" website. I researched reading resources, information, and tips for parents of young children to promote early reading and literacy. I organized my findings into several different sections for the website, including Tips for Parents, The Importance of Reading, Reading: A Learned Skill, Five Essential Components to Reading, Best Books to Read, Effects of Television on Early Reading, and links to other websites and educational games. Show less

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  Iowa Central Community College

  Aug 2012 - May 2014

  Student Athlete, Team Captain

  I competed as a distance runner for the Cross Country and Track & Field teams at Iowa Central Community College. I acted as team captain for my sophomore year, facilitating warm-ups and team runs, reaching out to new runners to create a cohesive team atmosphere, and leading by example at practices and meets. I was a part of 3 National Championship teams and placed 9th at Cross Country Nationals in Fall 2013 and 6th in the Steeple Chase at Outdoor Track & Field Nationals in Spring 2014, earning All-American honors. I also earned Academic All NJCAA in Cross Country and NJCAA Region XI Academic 1st Team All-Region. Show less

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  Luther College

  Jul 2014 - Jul 2014

  Camp Counselor

  I worked as a camp counselor and mentor for the annual Luther College Distance Running Camp in summer 2014. I was assigned to the supervision of 30 high school girls to ensure safety during camp activities and at night in the dorms. Additionally, my primary duties involved leading practices and facilitating camp activities. I participated in twice daily workouts with 100+ high school athletes, running with and coaching the campers through recovery runs, hill workouts, and weight lifting sessions. Show less

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  University of Northern Iowa

  Aug 2014 - May 2016

  I worked as a volunteer as part of the Student Admissions Ambassadors (SAA). As a member of this group, I gave weekly campus tours to prospective students and families, ate lunch with visitors, sat on student panels, and assisted on campus visit days by offering tours and escorting groups of people to various educational sessions. I also volunteered with SAA in the community for highway and campus cleanup, Christmas caroling at nursing homes, and volunteering at school fun nights. During my senior year, I was elected to Co-Chair of Membership Selection. In this position, I collaborated with my co-chair to spearhead the membership selection process by organizing committee meetings, developing interview questions, reviewing applications, and conducting group and individual interviews toward the end of each semester. Show less

  • Student Athlete

    Aug 2014 - May 2016

  • Student Admissions Ambassador

    Aug 2014 - May 2016
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  Fletcher Wood Products

  May 2015 - Aug 2016

  Assistant Bookkeeper

  For the last two summers, I have assisted in managing invoices, bills, receipts, and customer information using computer accounting systems and filing systems.

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  Iowa Central Community College

  May 2016 - Aug 2016

  Office of Admissions Summer Support Staff

  My primary job as part of the Admissions staff was to lead prospective students, families, and school groups on tours of campus. I also acted as a guide on summer orientation days, escorting large groups of people to various sessions about the college and offering tours of facilities and apartments. I also worked as a secretary by answering phone calls, organizing student folders, preparing recruitment materials for large campus events, contacting prospective students about visit days, and inputting information into Datatel and Excel. As the school year approached, I helped edit the content and layout for the updated Iowa Central viewbook and wrote an article on behalf of Vice President Dr. Beneke for the Fort Dodge Messenger, promoting new resources, courses, and events offered at Iowa Central during the 2016-17 school year. Show less

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  Hoover Middle School

  Aug 2016 - Oct 2016

  Student Teaching

  • Functioned as full-time teacher for nearly six weeks, responsible for three 80-minute literacy blocks of 20-30 students, a study hall, and a non-curriculum course known as SOAR• Independently designed and taught lessons about 3rd person perspective and the 5 Ws for a journalistic narrative writing unit based on Bend 1 of Lucy Calkins’ Investigative Journalism curriculum• Collaborated with the 8th grade literacy team to plan lessons for Standards R.L.8.1 and 8.2 of the Common Core, using several short stories to demonstrate how to cite textual evidence, determine theme, and write summary • Worked in small groups and one-on-one with students for supplemental instruction during and after school• Actively participated in Professional Development Days, Professional Learning Communities, and team meeting• Returned after my placement ended to lead student conferences Show less

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  East High School

  Oct 2016 - Dec 2016

  Student Teaching

  • Assumed full-time teaching, planning, and grading responsibilities for Advanced English 9, 11th grade AP Language, and Creative writing, in which I developed a unit on mythology, prepared and facilitated discussions over The Scarlet Letter, and designed writing exercises and essays for a creative nonfiction unit • Assessed and provided written feedback on assignments and essays for 80 students, including creative writing journals, independent study mythology projects, and Scarlet Letter analysis essays• Assisted my cooperating teacher in developing questions and facilitating discussion for two sections of International Baccalaureate and one period of Extended Learning Program, thereby gaining experience evaluating essays and presentations based on strict International Baccalaureate standards/rubrics • Arrived early and stayed two hours late after school every day to make myself available to students seeking help Show less

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  Fort Dodge Senior High School

  Feb 2017 - May 2017

  Volunteer Assistant Track and Field Coach
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  FORT DODGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOUNDATION

  Mar 2017 - Jun 2017

  Substitute Teacher
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  Harvard Book Store

  Aug 2017 - May 2018

  Harvard Book Store Event Assistant
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  Emerson College

  Sept 2017 - now

  This is my third year teaching at Emerson College and my first year as affiliated faculty. I currently teach two hybrid sections of Introduction to College Writing and will teach Research Writing in the spring. In these positions, I created tailored lesson plans, selected and assigned readings, and designed formal and informal writing assessments foundational for improving first-year college students’ abilities to write and research in a variety of academic modes and contexts.Position Highlights: ● Engage students by utilizing a range of instructional strategies such as interactive lectures, class discussions, group work, peer reviews, and individual writing conferences. Also encourage students to approach assignments through the lens of their own interests and experiences whenever possible. ● Ensure student growth by taking a process-centered approach to writing, providing detailed and personalized written feedback on every formal essay draft, holding one-on-one meetings multiple times each semester to prepare students for major essay revisions, and reaching out via email to students who were struggling or falling behind. ● Utilize Zoom and Canvas while alternating between in-person and virtual classes in this hybrid format. Maintain student buy-in by checking in consistently on their well-being and openly discussing the class format and pace. Show less ● Acted as full-time instructor for Introduction to College Writing and Research Writing ● Created lesson plans, assign readings, and design and grade assessments based on the learning objectives of Emerson’s First Year Writing Program● Led classroom discussions, present lectures on writing techniques, and encourage revision by facilitating peer review workshops and holding one-on-one conferences ● Collaborated with other instructors in the program to share materials and discuss lessons plans and assessments Show less ● Coordinated the end-of-the-year First Year Writing Program “Showcase” by sending emails to faculty, organizing a committee to assist with planning details, holding committee meetings to delegate and complete tasks, preparing submission materials for students and faculty, and updating the Showcase wordpress website ● Collected program materials from other instructors and organized them in order to make the program more collaborative and to provide new instructors with a variety of materials ● Took meeting minutes at faculty meetings and worked closely with FYWP Director Steven Himmer to complete any other necessary tasks Show less ● Worked closely with Comedic Arts Director Martie Cook and other Emerson College faculty and staff to further develop and promote Emerson’s Comedic Arts program and the Center for Comedic Arts ● Attended Comedy Committee meetings and performed a range of creative and administrative tasks to execute projects and plan events, including the panel, “Killing it with Comedy: Can Humor Combat Social Injustice?” and the Emerson College Comedic Arts Festival ● Wrote and revised content for the Emerson College Comedic Arts website, as well as other recruitment materials ● Coordinated panels, lunches, administrative meetings, student-faculty gatherings, and faculty search days by communicating with Emerson faculty, staff, and students as well as outside guests and vendors● Served as contact point for the Comedic Arts program and facilitated communication between faculty, staff, and students about program updates, registration, and upcoming events Show less

  • Affiliated Faculty

    Aug 2020 - now

  • Graduate Instructor

    Sept 2018 - Aug 2020

  • Writing Studies Program Assistant

    Sept 2018 - Aug 2020

  • Comedic Arts Program Assistant

    Sept 2017 - Aug 2018
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  K5 Learning

  Apr 2020 - now

  Freelance Writer

  I pitch and write original short fiction and nonfiction stories for inclusion in educational workbooks for elementary school students. Stories must be appropriate in content and style and written at the appropriate Lexile level. I then make revisions in response to feedback regarding content and style.

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  Iowa Central Community College

  Aug 2020 - now

  Adjunct Professor

  I currently teach two fully virtual sections of Composition I with twenty-five students in each, relying on Zoom for live meetings and Canvas for organizing and turning in coursework. In this role, I design formal and informal assessments to improve writing and reading skills, develop rhetorical awareness, increase critical thinking, and hone students’ capacities to operate and communicate in academic contexts.Position Highlights: ● Keep students engaged in the virtual format by employing a range of teaching strategies, including full class discussions, breakout groups, peer reviews, interactive lectures with visual aids, and one-on-one check-ins. ● Incorporate process-oriented assignments like reflections, peer reviews, and revisions to develop students’ awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses and to introduce them to writing techniques and resources that will assist them throughout their educational career. ● Encourage student growth by providing detailed and personalized written feedback on every formal essay draft, holding individual conferences with students about their writing, submitting alerts for struggling students to connect them with academic advisors, and checking in via email with those who are falling behind. Show less