Jackie
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Vanderbilt University - Bachelors, Elementary education and sociology
Graduate Degree: Christian Brothers University - Masters, Masters of education in reading
Hiking, camping, biking, cooking, Irish Dance
College English
College Level American History
Comparative Literature
Elementary School Math
High School English
High School Level American History
Homework Support
MAP Prep
Other
Summer
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In a typical first session, I will evaluate the student's current level of performance in the targeted subject. Typically, this will include math and/or reading assessments so that tutoring can be individualized. After the assessments, I will discuss results with the parents and/or students, depending on the age of the student being tutored.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Students are most fully engaged when they are given material that is both within their proximal zone of development, and contains content that interests the students. Students, especially those struggling with math and/or reading, can be reluctant to learn. By ensuring that instruction is meeting students where they currently are and working to bring them up to grade level, students are much more likely to be engaged. When the topic of study is of interest to students, students are more engaged. When working on math concepts, I will create word problems that address students' interests. By using students' names in the problems and topics of interest, such as sports or activities the students are in, the problems gain a sense of practicality and ability to relate. Use of a reading text with vivid imagery, such as National Geographic magazines, is a way of engaging reluctant readers in high-quality nonfiction text.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, I would identify which elements are causing the issue. Often when a student struggles, he or she is missing prior information (building blocks) needed to master the current information. I would backtrack and fill in the missing areas first; then, revisit the difficult topic.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Students who are struggling with reading comprehension typically have one of three major concerns. The first is that the student's decoding skills are not well developed. As a result, reading is a slow, laborious process. The student is using all of his/her energy to read the words, and needs to improve fluency before reading comprehension will improve. Secondly, a student may have a lower vocabulary. If that is the case, working on strategies to access new vocabulary will assist comprehension. Finally, many students need to be taught strategies for reading comprehension. Many students do not know how to break apart a text and find textual evidence. By working on close reading and teaching skills such as compare/contrast, outlining, and text structure analysis, a student's reading comprehension improves.