Tara: Frankfort tutor
Certified Tutor
My job is to help students master subject matter as well as building lasting relationships with them. Life is about learning and many so many other skills. I have been teaching for 13 years and love it. Tutoring will be rewarding for me because the 1:1 relationship is ideal for learning, especially if struggling with a certain concept. I currently teach 9th grade biology and 10th-12th anatomy and physiology. I also, taught algebra for about 5 years. I have 2 daughters, one is 16 and the other is 12. I often help them with their school work. I live on a lake and love being outdoors. We have a cat and a small dog (a bischon/poodle mix). I live in Keystone Heights Florida and love our small town. My husband owns a boat shop nearby and we love waterskiing. My girls play soccer and flag football at the high school, which keeps our family busy at times. If I had to describe myself in three words I would say that I am patient, kind, and hardworking.
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Florida - Bachelors, Therapeutic Recreation, with emphasis in Math
waterskiing
- Biology
- College Biology
- Elementary School Math
- High School Biology
- Math
- Pre-Algebra
- Science
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is to keep trying and never give up. There are so many resources to help students thrive and it will be my job as a tutor to help them do just that!
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
A typical first session would be to discuss their goals as a student, as well as talk to them and get to know them as a person. I would talk with them about the resources they already have and go from there. Snacks are always good too!
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
When teaching a student you have to take things one day at a time. Practice, assessments, discussions, and using a plethora of resources are key.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Motivating a student with verbal encouragement is always helpful, and a positive attitude displayed by the tutor is a must. Letting the student know that you are by their side until they understand things is also a must.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
A student having difficulties learning a skill or concept will be handled first by communicating verbally with them through asking questions to get the answers needed by the tutor to help them move on. We would redo old work, use new work, use video clips, tutorials, etc. to get them where they need to be. Never give up!!
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Note-taking is key to reading comprehension, along with discussing and reviewing concepts over and over. Mnemonics also help them remember concepts.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Finding where they are in a concept by giving a pre-test is often the most successful. Verbal communication of where they are works too.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Real-life applications almost always help a student get excited, especially if you can relate it to something they are interested in!
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Verbal assessments, paper and pencil assessments, computer assessments, hands-on activities if applicable, and worksheets can be used to see if a student understands the material.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
The best student confidence builder is to simply let them know that you believe in them and that together we will accomplish what he or she needs!
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Evaluating a student's needs can be done through verbal discussion and pre/post assessments in any form that they feel comfortable completing. Communication is key!
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Adapting tutoring to a student's needs is done by communicating with one another about what is liked and not liked about what is happening in the sessions. Being honest with each other is essential. After these steps, the tutoring can be changed as needed with all the resources available.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Technology, hands-on activities, worksheets, video clips, textbooks, and discussions are all common resources needed during a tutoring session.