Stephanie
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Western Governors University - Bachelors, SpEd/Gen Ed
soaping and gardening
Elementary School Math
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I can help students become independent learners by teaching them the study skills they need to be successful. Knowing how to pull the important aspects out of lectures or readings and put into notes is a key factor for having something to study from. Also, prioritizing assignments and time management skills help. I am very organized and can help you become organized also. This will help greatly!
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Chunking work so things don't look so overwhelming and positive reinforcements are how I keep students motivated.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
When a student is having difficulty, I will usually try a different approach. When that does not work, I like to step away from it for a short break, and then go back to that skill/concept. I also like to have the student explain it to me, that way I can hear where the problem lies.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
When students are struggling with reading comprehension, a good way to help is to break things down, go a section at a time, chunk things so they are smaller and easier to grasp, look at the big picture, and put it all together.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
First and foremost, you have to get to know your student, how they learn, and what kind of study skills and work habits they have. You also need to be aware of where they are struggling. I think being myself and letting students know that my philosophy is: it's okay to not know, but not okay to not try. We all make mistakes; no one knows everything, so we can work through it together!
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I think hands-on activities help students get excited about any subject. I like to use hands-on activities whenever possible and can get very creative in order to get things rolling.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I like to use ticket out the door, have students write a short explanation, or even have them come up with a quiz or test question to see if they have a handle on the material presented in the lesson.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I think you build confidence by starting out slow/little and building on that. Start out with easier questions/concepts and gradually get more difficult.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
By listening to what the student thinks they need. Taking some assessments and previous work samples helps to determine where a student needs help.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I like to use white boards, pictures, real world examples, or anything that I think will help the student have that ah-ha moment.
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy, plain and simple is: It's ok to not know or get it, but it's not ok to not try or ask questions.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I think a first session should be used to get to know the student and how they think and learn. A short question and answer session regarding academics and possibly an assessment to get an idea of what the student needs to work on would help prepare them for future sessions.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I adapt to student's needs on a per student basis. For example: if the student does not do well with a lecture format, but does better with a see then do format, I switch to that. It really depends on the student's needs at the time.