Shaneel: Sussex tutor
Certified Tutor
I am excited to be your English Language Arts tutor. I am a graduate of the University of Florida and hold a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with minors in History and Public Speaking, and I am certified to teach secondary English and Social Studies by the state of Michigan. I have taught middle and high school English Language Arts, and I enjoy seeing students understand a holistic application of this subject. Further, in my role as an educator, my students have experienced tangible growth in their reading comprehension and language acquisition levels. I currently tutor Writing, College Essays, 6th-12th grade Reading and Writing, ACT English, ACT Writing and Essay Editing.
All students can learn, and with patient guidance, will learn. I believe in enthusiastic teaching and learning. I get excited about ethos, pathos, and logos. No, truly! These three forms of rhetoric/persuasion are among my favorite lessons to teach. Sure, very few people race to study pronoun antecedent agreement or find poetry written in iambic pentameter, but no need to be melancholy!
I find that students learn best when they are actively involved in the learning process. As a result, I encourage students to not just identify the correct answer, but to explain why that answer is right and what makes the other choices wrong. In being able to identify what makes an incorrect answer wrong, students best demonstrate true mastery of a learning standard.
I look forward to working with you. I understand each student learns and processes things differently, and I am not afraid to find and try unconventional sources to assist in student learning. Whether that includes creating a Jeopardy game for revision, turning on the melodic tunes of Flocabulary, or reviewing an essay seven time, I am invested in seeing you succeed.
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Florida - Bachelors, Political Science and Government
Currently an Adult Piano Student, running, missionary traveling, video creation and editing, European history, legal jurisprudence, the Innocence Project, reading, audio books, and light cooking.
- 10th Grade Reading
- 10th Grade Writing
- 11th Grade Reading
- 11th Grade Writing
- 12th Grade Reading
- 12th Grade Writing
- 6th Grade Reading
- 6th Grade Writing
- 7th Grade Reading
- 7th Grade Writing
- 8th Grade Reading
- 8th Grade Writing
- 9th Grade Reading
- 9th Grade Writing
- ACT English
- ACT Writing
- Adult Literacy
- College English
- College Essays
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- High School Writing
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Writing
- Test Prep
- Writing
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
We won't simply move on! If we must table the concept until I go find additional resources, we will, but I believe all children are capable of learning!
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
The best way to help a student struggling with reading comprehension is to read. We will read short passages together and unpack what themes the author is attempting to convey. Additionally, I'll encourage out-of-session reading, whether it be fiction or non-fiction. Plus, I have a lot of high interest novel recommendations my former students loved!
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
The I do, we do, you do method of teaching and learning has shown the most success.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I will typically try to meet a student where they are. If I am teaching poetry terms, I will seek popular songs that are appropriate and match the lesson. Getting students to understand the relatability of a subject to their lives makes it more tangible.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Having a student explain to me why a right answer is correct and why the other answer choices are incorrect has been a powerful tool to gauge mastery of a particular learning standard.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Assessing a student via quick "Do Now" or "Exit Tickets" (short, 1-5 answer quizzes) helps me to gauge the understanding a student possesses. Further, having a student write a test question themselves proves to be useful in seeing the gaps of understanding a student may have.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
If my current teaching method is proving unsuccessful, that is when I will pause and probe the student to see where the breakdown in understanding lies.
What is your teaching philosophy?
All students are capable of thought and learning.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Introduction! I will get to know the student as an individual (hobbies and interests) as well as gauge their learning needs and styles. I will want them to feel comfortable going through the learning process with me as well, so I will share interesting facts about myself too.