About Lotus Learning
CLASSICAL LEARNING IN THE MODERN WORLD
Lotus Learning provides private tutorials and small group classes for learners at all stages of primary and secondary education. Through personalized learning programs, learners progress through the curriculum at a comfortable pace as they continually develop skills of language and thought to become engaging communicators and creative problem solvers.
Lotus Learning’s philosophy is rooted in the desire for universal understanding at the core of the classical liberal arts and humanities. The ancients recognized such an education encompassing the language arts, mathematics, sciences, and fine arts as being essential for free persons. Lotus Learning aims to help learners grow into free persons willing and able to exercise the rights and responsibilities of the communities in which they live, study, and work.
At Lotus Learning we use teaching materials that bring the classical liberal arts and humanities into the modern world in a way that engages the hearts and minds of learner and teacher alike. These materials include: Logic of English Foundations (systematic phonics program), Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts (grammar, writing, vocabulary, poetics, and literature), Memoria Press Latin Forms supplemented by Minimus Latin and Lingua Latina, Classical Academic Press Logic series, and bespoke literature and writing where appropriate. Lotus Learning also offers tutorials in history, philosophy, fundamentals of music, humanities, and elementary math and science.
About the Instructor
Brandy Springstubbe
Brandy Springstubbe is the founder of Lotus Learning, an online private and small group tutoring business for learners at all stages of primary and secondary education. In addition to managing and running Lotus Learning, Brandy is an adjunct professor of English composition and literature at Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Prior to beginning her tenure at Grand Rapids Community College, Brandy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Russian Studies and completed a post-baccalaureate program in Elementary Education from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. She taught in single-grade and multi-grade classrooms for several years in both Grand Rapids, Michigan and Nagoya, Japan, before pursuing her Master of Arts in Liberal Arts (Great Books) from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. After earning her Master of Arts degree, Brandy began tutoring both homeschooled and traditionally-schooled children in various subjects both in person and virtually. Recent events have led her to move all instruction online thus founding Lotus Learning.
Brandy’s philosophy of teaching focuses on adapting lessons and expectations to the interests of students. She believes in allowing students to take risks and make mistakes, understanding that failure is often a better teacher than success alone. She works diligently to gently stretch students’ minds and skills just beyond their comfort zones to help them grow and discover what they are truly capable of doing.
In 2017, Brandy was invited to become a fellow with the Lake Michigan Writing Project (LMWP), a branch of the National Writing Project that enriches teachers by inviting them to grow as creative writers, as writing coaches, as teacher researchers, and as teachers of other teachers. She continued her participation by attending the LMWP Advanced Institute in 2019, the LMWP Action Research course through Grand Valley State University in 2019-2020, and the 2021 Advanced Institute focusing on narrative writing and social and environmental justice argumentation. In 2021, Brandy published her writing in a national social justice magazine.
When Brandy is not teaching, she enjoys reading, writing, music, cooking, gardening, and kayaking. She is a voracious reader and loves talking about books with other readers, participating in both local and online book clubs. Brandy meets regularly with a small group of writers to continue to work on her craft, offer feedback to others, and encourage good writing practices. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and cat, watching true crime and dreaming of their departure to a tropical island.
