Aslum: Santa Fe tutor
Certified Tutor
I have been tutoring a friend, for whom English is a second language, for the past two years, and she has had great success, passing English courses she had taken multiple times prior to working with me. I am also a published and prize-winning writer, an honor student, who earned the highest possible score on the Advanced Placement English exam coming out of high school. I would like to pass what I'm best at - reading comprehension and writing, on to others. Please reach out!
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Bachelors, English
Graduate Degree: Syracuse University - Masters, Media Management
I am a film geek, and a published and prize winning writer. I also grew up collecting comic books, actually writing one back in the '90s while I was in college. Television / radio / film are what I love most.
- Adult Literacy
- American Literature
- College English
- College Level American Literature
- English
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- High School Level American Literature
- High School Writing
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- Middle School Writing
- Public Speaking
What is your teaching philosophy?
I prefer the more Socratic method where I ask students questions and make corrections as needed to make sure they understand what I've taught. Teaching by doing; in other words, not lecturing.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In a first session, I would chit chat with the student to get to know him/her a little better and get a sense of where they might feel weak and how I might be able to help. Then, I would work with the student and their parent, if available, to determine our mutual goals for his/her success before diving into the books!
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
If the student particularly likes an aspect of his/her assignment, I like to recommend places where s/he can find similar works, experiences, or what have you.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I like to joke, encourage, and, most importantly, remind him/her of his/her goals and why s/he's taking the class. I find that these things together keep students on track.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Ask questions and make corrections until I figure out where s/he's weak and/or s/he gets it.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I have them take what they're struggling with a piece at a time and discuss what they may not be understanding.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I find that it helps to get to know them and let them get to know me.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would ask him/her questions about that subject to find an aspect s/he may like and then show how that connects to what s/he's struggling with.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I always ask my students questions about what we just went over to make sure they got it.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I praise what my students do well and point out how that puts them on a path to achieving their goals.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I like talking to students and/or parents as appropriate, to figure out where the student struggles most. During sessions, I pay close attention to places where I find myself repeating myself and note when they ask me to repeat things or they seem confused. Every student is different, and I learn by doing, adjusting, and adapting to each particular student's needs.