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Brandon: Long Beach tutor

Certified Tutor

Learning occurs when a student is in a safe, comfortable environment where they feel respected and engaged. As a teacher, I pride myself on ensuring that every student in my classroom feels like they have a voice, and that their voice is important. A student should never feel ashamed or afraid to express their opinion.
When I teach, I start with a passionate approach to the material. I love Language Arts and strive to garner as much knowledge about the material as I can so that I can present true and credible information to my students. I then determine the most exciting way to convey the material so that each student is engaged. I learn as much as I can about the student's interests, passions, and hobbies, so that I can create analogies to their lives and impart the information in such a way that they can apply it to what they already know and care about. I believe that this method contributes to long term retention.
My goal is, not only for my class to do well on standardized exams, but to carry a lifelong passion for learning and for the material that I've presented them. I feel an enormous sense of pride when I know that I've made a difference in a student's life. I want my students to see the importance of education and value in the betterment of themselves and their community.
I believe that test scores don't tell the entire story of a student's progress, but an overview of the student as a whole is important to measure learning. How has the student progressed in the classroom? Have they shown a new interest in the subject? Have they volunteered more information about themselves over the course of a semester? Are they willing to participate in class discussion, whereas, before they were quiet? These are all questions I ask myself and measures I use to determine if I am teaching effectively. I believe in always working to become a better teacher and person. Therefore, I am always measuring my progress as well as the student's, and asking myself what I can do to become better at my job. One of the best ways for me to be a better teacher is to learn from my students.
I embrace technology in my classroom and want the students to be excited about Language Arts as it applies to the world in which they operate. Social Media, blogging, and the internet in general are important spheres for education, and I like to make a connection to technology and the subject matter in which I'm teaching so that students are excited to see the application.

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Brandon’s Qualifications
Education & Certification

Undergraduate Degree: University of North Texas - Bachelors, English

Hobbies

synthesizers, music, books, movies, comix, drawing, painting, basketball

Tutoring Subjects
College English
College Essays
Comparative Literature
English
English Grammar and Syntax
ESL/ELL
Essay Editing
High School English
Literature
Reading
Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?

Learning occurs when a student is in a safe, comfortable environment where they feel respected and engaged. As a teacher, I pride myself on ensuring that every student in my classroom feels like they have a voice, and that their voice is important. A student should never feel ashamed or afraid to express their opinion. When I teach, I start with a passionate approach to the material. I love Language Arts and strive to garner as much knowledge about the material as I can so that I can present true and credible information to my students. I then determine the most exciting way to convey the material so that each student is engaged. I learn as much as I can about the student.

What might you do in a typical first session with a student?

Get to know them- what their interests are, what they hope to do professionally, what they need help with, and what their goals are for the area in which they need help. Then get to work helping them achieve those goals.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can give a student tools and devices they can use when they are on their own to master the content.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would make the information as fun as possible and help the student maintain an eye on their goal.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

I would answer as many questions they have and figure out a way to help them grasp the concept.

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

We can work on vocabulary and learning how the words work in a sentence.

What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?

Getting to know that student's strengths and areas that need improvement as well as their goals for the improvement, so that I can tailor the help to their goals.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?

I would find a way to relate it to something they are passionate about or want to learn.

What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?

Vocab lists, short written response, analyzing homework, discussion, etc.

How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?

By building skills and then showing them that they can do the work once they know how to approach it.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I would like to see some of their work and hear them explain to me what it is they think they need improvement in.

How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?

I find their areas that need improving and then I tailor the lessons to those areas.

What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?

Class materials, paper, pens, and visuals if needed.