Sara: St. Paul tutor
Certified Tutor
I am a graduate Eastern New Mexico University. I received my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with my focus in Reading. After graduation, I moved to San Antonio, Texas. Here, I had the opportunity to tutor students in small 4:1 and 1:1 ratios in basic math, phonics, reading and language arts. I also had the opportunity to be a substitute teacher for Judson ISD. During which, I was able to accept a long term position working on a grant project, The Apple Unit, a program designed for Autistic children. While my tutoring skills are for elementary, I have a real passion for grammar and writing. I utilize this passion to score middle school essays for a testing company. I enjoy helping students learn and understand new concepts and ideas. I believe having a strong education can help you get far in life, achieve goals, be active in your community and boost your self-esteem. In my free time, I train and run relay races across the United States, snowboard, spend time at the lake, travel, and curl up on the sofa with a good book.
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Undergraduate Degree: Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus - Bachelors, Elementary Education
Snowboarding, running, reading, camping
- Elementary School
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- ESL/ELL
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- Middle School Writing
- Other
- Personal Finance
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
What is your teaching philosophy?
My philosophy of education includes providing individual students with an appropriate education that meets each child's individual needs, creating an environment where students feel safe to explore concepts and prepare students to be successful, responsible and independent members of society.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
When meeting with a student for the first time, I would greet the student and introduce myself. I would learn what the student's interests are to build rapport, and see what the student would like to get out of tutoring before we begin our tutoring portion of the session.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
By creating a safe environment that allows a student to explore new concepts and ideas, the student will gain confidence in their abilities. This will help them become an independent learner.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Taking an interest in the student's educational goals, interests, hobbies, and what they would like to see out of the tutoring session, and using that information to engage the student and help motivate them.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Try to see the problem from the student's point of view. Once I see the concept from the student's point of view, it will help guide me as to how to approach the student with the new content.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Students that are struggling with reading comprehension need to learn skills on how to break down the content they are reading. I can help them by teaching the skills and techniques needed to understand the content.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I find that helping the student organize their thoughts and ideas is an important strategy to help students. Once they are organized, they can focus on the content, and breaking that down step by step.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
After greeting the student for the session, I find that starting with a warm-up question, outlining the session, or reviewing notes, gets the student involved in their process of learning.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I find that asking the student to summarize, and reflect on their answers, allows me to see if the student comprehends the material. I like to see where the student is thinking, because it allows me to implement any new techniques to help them understand the material.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I find that offering positive reinforcement, and acknowledge students' accomplishments, helps them build confidence.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
By asking the student questions, or asking for the student to summarize their answer, it allows me to understand the process they are wanting to take to answer the problem. If they do not have a full understanding, I can see how I need to adjust my tutoring session.