Maria
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Cal. State Northridge - Bachelor in Arts, Liberal Studies
Graduate Degree: College of Notre Dame - Master in Public Health Administration, Public Administration
I My artist talents include ceramics, stained glass and quilting. I enjoy playing tennis, softball and basketball. I have a passion for writing poetry and short stories.
College English
Comparative Literature
Conversational Spanish
Elementary School Math
High School English
Spanish 1
What is your teaching philosophy?
Finding how my students learn best and then empowering them to use those strategies to succeed.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Share relevant personal information about myself and encourage them to tell me about themselves: likes, dislikes, what helps them learn, and what doesn't.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Give them helpful strategies suited to their learning style. Model these strategies then provide enough practice to achieve mastery.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Provide them with plenty of situations where they feel successful and encourage them to apply what they learn to real world situations.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Break down the concept to its smallest step and affirm even the smallest success.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I encourage them by having them listen to books they enjoy while reading along. I also pick books they are interested in so they will want to recall the information.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I tell them about my history of being an illiterate adult and how I came to be where I am now, motivating them to do the same.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Find fun activities using the subject in real-life situations and providing hands-on experiences.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Provide them the opportunity to put together a small project where they use the concepts learned.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Encourage them and applaud success. Encourage and applaud until they can applaud themselves.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I use assessments where the students can demonstrate what they know.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I find and use anything that can meet the student where he is and provide extensive practice.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I provide reading material, hands-on experiences and practice worksheets.