Hannah
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: University of Southern California - Bachelors, English (Honors)
Graduate Degree: University of Iowa Iowa Writers Workshop - Masters, English
Business, technology, policy
12th Grade Writing
College English
Comparative Literature
Fiction Writing
High School English
High School Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe writing is not taught, but rather guided.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
1. We will get to know each other. 2. I will ask you what your goals are, and how much preparation or prior knowledge you have. We will walk through a rough game plan on how to accomplish your goals. 3. I will have you complete a one-page writing sample.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
As a teacher, you must show the student how to be an independent learner. You may begin a course with instruction to teach by example, and eventually provide handouts or questions that increasingly ask students more of their thoughts, experiences, and opinions. The progression of work can lead to becoming more open-ended for students to gain agency on becoming independent learners themselves.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
1. Checking in with the student. 2. Checking in with the content or work to see if they understand what is being taught, and if it’s manageable for them.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
1. Relax the atmosphere and situation by sitting with them and chatting about how they are feeling. 2. Ask them what their question is/where they are confused. 3. Work through their question by referencing a base concept and working again through the process.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
1. Break down the passage into manageable sections. 2. In smaller sections, I would ask the student to summarize the main idea in her own words.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
1. The container of the learning environment must be very steady, clear, and professional. This includes the schedule, starting/ending times, class routine, deadlines and expectations. 2. When the perimeter is fair and well understood by both parties, there is spaciousness within the student-teacher relationship to engage in an authentic and personable way.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
In writing, I emphasize that the students should write what they care about and are naturally interested in. I ask them to make personal connections to a topic and I ask them questions about their lives.