Tiffany
Certified Tutor
I graduated from San Diego Christian College in 2005 with a degree in Human Development. I have completed my credential courses at San Diego Christian College, and I am currently working on clearing my credential through UCLA. I have taught at the elementary level as a full-time Teacher and as a Substitute. I have experience with full size classrooms and small groups for Reading and Math support. I also have experience working with English Language Learners, developing their reading skills and vocabulary skills.
I believe that it is my job to provide my students with the right tools and strategies to help them succeed. Because your child was not made from a mold, I understand that each student I teach has unique qualities and needs, and it is my job to understand that. I believe in building on my students successes, to help them build new successes.
I enjoy reading, biking, running, cooking and baking. I also enjoy learning new ways to teach a subject.
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Undergraduate Degree: San Diego Christian College - Bachelor in Arts, Human Development
- Arithmetic
- College English
- Elementary Math
- Elementary School Math
- English
- ESL/ELL
- High School English
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Other
- Pre-Algebra
- Reading
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Summer
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe it is my responsibility as a teacher to provide my students with the strategies and confidence to overcome their challenges. In order to do this, I provide them with examples of previous victories as well as new victories that may be small in the big picture but encourage them nonetheless.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In a first session, I will sit with the student and the parents. I provide a plan with a goal. This plan has the student's goal, what must to reach that goal, and strategies to achieve the goal. I then spend the remaining time working with the student to try and pinpoint the best strategies to help them.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
It is always my goal to make a student an independent learner. Teaching my student that they can be successful makes them less intimidated by their academic struggle.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Depending on the age, I might provide a gift as a goal. For example, one of my students received a nail polish set for successfully comprehending word problems. During a tutoring session, we might take a break and do some kind of game that pertains to the lesson. I also get parents involved (e.g., providing support with some sort of treat or activity).
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
When a student has difficulty with a concept, I break it down into smaller pieces to check where the misunderstanding is taking place. I then provide visuals, drawings actions, and games to make it more diverse. Also, I spend an intense small amount of time on the concept so as not to overwhelm them and make sure that our time together is not always a struggle.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I teach students about the questions they need to ask internally as they are reading. I teach them how to understand what the point of the author is. I teach them how to annotate (at any grade level) their reading to simplify their understanding.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
My most successful strategy is showing students that they have had success in the past and they can have it in the future. In addition removing the crushing thought of "I can't."
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Playing a game, doing something hands-on, cut outs, gluing, and drawing. I also think it's important that my students see that I am excited for them.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Constant revisiting the material. Taking the first 5 minutes of a session to make sure the student grasped and remembered the concept.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
By giving them small successes as we move through the subject. I use these as a reference point for the student to look back to.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Parents have been a great help, explaining where they struggle the most and what they think would be most helpful. I then try various strategies to see which ones are more successful and interesting to the student.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
If I see a student is starting to loose motivation, I have them get some water or snack, and then I change to the next strategy. I make sure I have some plan that is a motivation for my specific student's needs.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Each of my students has a notebook. Depending on the needs, I have phone apps, whiteboards, pictures, markers, games, glue, handouts, "toys," homework, and/or action strategies.