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Lori

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Education, like literature and art, bridges the chasm between cultures. As a teacher and a lifelong learner, I welcome the opportunity to work with students as a Varsity tutor. Education and learning have been anchors for me throughout my life. As the first generation to attend college in my family,I attended Wheaton College, the first post-secondary institution for women founded by Mary Lyon. My experience at Wheaton became an essential link to my world view and the belief in my own potential as a woman and as a contributing member of society. As a business woman and a teacher, I recognize that the ability to learn, adapt and practice is not only essential but crucial. As an educator, I challenge my students to embrace the vital connection between life and learning in order to fulfill their own potential. To quote the Wheaton motto, "That they may have life and have it abundantly".

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Lori’s Qualifications

Education & Certification

Undergraduate Degree: Wheaton College (Illinois) - Bachelor in Arts, Art

State Certified Teacher

Hobbies

Cooking, poetry, art and travel

Tutoring Subjects

Q & A

What is your teaching philosophy?

Every child can learn, and it is essential that teachers help to unlock each child's method and motivation to learn. My role as a teacher is to motivate and guide students using proven strategies with a focus on multiple learning styles. Essentially, the teacher is a facilitator.

What might you do in a typical first session with a student?

In a typical first session, I may use a brief self-assessment for the student to evaluate needs and learning styles. I may also discuss the subject area to understand a student's background knowledge. In addition to this, I like to get to know some of a student's likes or dislikes as a means to building a rapport.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

An important part of becoming an independent learner is to realize one is not always right, and that's ok. Understanding why one answer may or may not be correct is a foundation for learning. Supporting students through the process of learning and understanding how they learn is essential to developing as an independent learner.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Every student has different motivators. By learning about each student and developing a relationship with them, I can create lessons that ensure valued purpose in multiple learning styles through unique lenses in a challenging, yet fun, environment.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

There are several approaches to overcoming difficulty when learning a skill or concept. As a facilitator, I would be patient but determined. I would clarify background knowledge inconsistencies, formulate and differentiate varied lesson plans, find real-world connections, cultivate reciprocal teaching, and encourage the student to be resilient.

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

There are multiple strategies and methods to assist struggling readers. Reading comprehension varies with content and purpose of reading. Learning text structure, understanding author's purpose and intended audience, developing subject area vocabulary, identifying textual and context clues, and building background knowledge are some of the ways to help struggling readers.

What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?

Getting to know and respect the needs and purpose of each student is the start of a great relationship. Student self-assessment regarding motivation and learning styles is an important basis for our interaction. I can then find multiple approaches to keep learning interesting and effective. In addition to this, engaging in higher level questioning helps me to evaluate a student's abilities and needs. Helping students recognize how they learn provides many ways for them to learn. As a lifelong learner, my enthusiasm is contagious.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?

Understanding how or why the student is struggling would be the key to getting them engaged. Many students do not feel there is a valued purpose to their learning. My job is to help make connections to real world issues, present subject matter in varied styles, and find what motivates the student. By incorporating multiple learning platforms, students may see a difficult subject through different lenses, which, in turn, may create engagement.

What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?

Formative assessments guide instruction. There are a number of ways to informally assess student learning. Brief questions regarding essential learning benchmarks can identify any misunderstandings along the way. It becomes clear whether they have a solid understanding of a topic when students try to re-explain it. More formal assessments at a unit's end can be varied. Some concepts or lessons may require traditional tests, but alternative assessments may also be suited to evaluate learning. These include writing poems or songs, "becoming" an author by designing social media platforms, creating 3D information hubs, creating a video, or even developing a test for other students.

How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?

To develop student confidence, I celebrate learning and making apparent to the student what they have learned. Often, students take what they know for granted. Having taught many age and skill levels, I can assure students the importance of their understanding; I know when to push and when to back off. Allowing an ebb and flow in learning and teaching encourages student confidence. Above all, I let students know that I am there for them!

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Being familiar with the expectations of schools and standards, I evaluate where a student is currently and where they need to go. Some methods to understand a student's needs may be a self-assessment; this could be in the subject area, their motivation, or which learning styles they favor. Building a relationship is also at the heart of understanding a student's needs.

How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?

To adapt tutoring to a student's needs, I may incorporate multiple learning styles, assess their vocabulary knowledge base, and create ability level lessons that challenge and encourage learning.

What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?

Typically, my toolbox includes appropriate literature, graphic organizers, two column notes, auxiliary reading materials, real-world examples, internet videos, and vocabulary (including word parts). I also utilize writing to learn strategies, discussion, and other academic support materials for testing.

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