Lana: Salt Lake County tutor
Certified Tutor
A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind and touches a heart. I firmly believe that every great teacher is always able to teach no matter what the circumstances are. When I declared my major in education, I knew I had made the best decision of all my friends because I was actually passionate about what I would be doing. Currently, I am teaching pre-k at a private school here in Manhattan. I love my job. I love being around kids, watching them learn and begin to do new things on their own. For me, teaching is about learning how to teach each child as a whole and individually. Every child learns differently and I believe that it is my job to figure out how they learn right from the beginning and then work with them to make them better. No two children learn the same so I have learned to figure out how each child works in a class. One of my biggest strengths is with writing and reading. I am a great lover of books and teaching children to love to read and how to write is what I love to do. I am always available if anyone needs help and I always strive to do my best. It is my job to make every child better and that is exactly what I am to do.
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Undergraduate Degree: Hofstra University - Bachelors, Early Childhood and Childhood Education, English American Literature
movies, reading, writing, traveling, visiting museums, baking, hanging out with friends, playing sports.
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is that everyone learns in a different way, so as a teacher I should have 100 different tricks under my sleeve. I believe that every child can be taught, and that giving up is never an option. You just have to find another way to do it.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In a first session with a student I want to get to know them, do a few sample problems, figure out how they learn and find which track fits them the best. I always want to know what they are struggling with before I work with them so I can prepare myself before meeting with them.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
In order to help a student become an independent learner, I believe in giving them strategies that they can use without me. For instance, if they are having trouble with comprehension, I would give them my read and refer back strategy. I would model it for them during our session and then email them tips for them use at home or at school.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I am a firm believer in sticker charts. Every time a student has a great session, does well on a test, gets an amazing grade on a paper, etc., I would give them a sticker on their chart. After a certain amount of stickers I would make them a special certificate that shows just how great they are.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
If a student is having difficulty learning a skill or concept, I would do my best to simplify it and explain it in a different way that would best suit the student.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
With students who struggle with reading comprehension I would model my read and referral strategy, which teaches a student to how to read a passage and pick out what they know and don't know. If they are answering a question, then I have them read through the passage once, look at the question, and then go back and read the passage again.