Cristina: Burnsville tutor
Certified Tutor
I am an experienced tutor and educator, having worked in a variety of settings ranging from homeroom basic reading and writing skills to college-level Spanish tutoring. I am a fluent Spanish-speaker and especially enjoy teaching language through numerous methods, depending on an individual's preferred learning patterns.
Outside of tutoring and teaching, I play the violin and guitar, and also sing. I am a doula, planning to study midwifery in the future. In addition to working in education-related fields, I have also worked closely with events spaces and bookstores in DC, Seattle, and Oberlin, OH. I am very passionate about literature and working closely with small businesses to promote local events.
I look forward to being in touch!
Connect with a tutor like Cristina
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that every student learns in a unique way, requiring flexibility and differentiation in the teaching practice. Each student has the capacity to master a concept if it is presented in an agreeable way, based on varying learning preferences.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I will offer initial scaffolding that will set students up to problem solve, and to use tools that have been well-established in order to think independently.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would re-frame the concept in a different way to differentiate the instruction. I would also have the student repeat back to me what they understood so that I could see where the misunderstanding stemmed from.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would make the material and lessons relevant to each individual student. That way, the motivation would be there to promote productivity and openness.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I like to ask about and observe preferred learning methods- visual, kinesthetic, oral.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I often use books, paper, and audio.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I find it most helpful to highlight goals, frustrations, and intentions in learning specific subjects, in order to generate motivation and create purpose for the learning.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I would present the material in various ways, through visuals, audio, speech, and writing. This would provide a well-rounded understanding and allow for further strength in the material.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I would work with the student to establish step-by-step goals, and encourage the student to meet this goals and also reflect on what has already been accomplished.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In the first session, I would like to review the material the student has already learned, in order to get a picture of their level, and themes that show up regarding learning patterns. I would then like to identify goals with the student and how to best meet them.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
My lessons would help students both determine their goals and also visualize the progress they have made. I would make lessons relevant to their personal lives and values.