
Rita
Certified Tutor
I completed my first degree, which was a Bachelor's of Science in Biology, at the University of West Georgia. I just recently completed my Master's degree in Biomedical Professions at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee. I am now working on my nursing degree, also at Lincoln Memorial University.
I have 3 years of teaching and tutoring experience that have ranged from elementary school level to college level. Subjects I have taught in the past include reading, math, and writing. The subjects I now tutor include English, Math, ESL/ ELL, Writing, Elementary School Reading, Writing and Math, High School English and Writing, and Middle School Reading, Writing, and Reading Comprehension. One of my favorite subjects to tutor is English in general. I have a strong understanding and command of spoken and written English, and this is something that I enjoy imparting to others.
My teaching philosophy is to use the student's strengths to build up their areas of weakness. When I tutor, I find it essential to really listen to and observe the student to correctly identify where they are struggling. From there, I explain the concept, using various examples until the student understands the material. Personally, I am a visual learner, so I often explain concepts by drawing, using educational videos, diagrams, etc. I am also able to adapt my teaching style to the student, since not everyone is a visual learner. A practice I have found effective while tutoring is to have the student explain to me, in their own words, what I taught them. This lets me gauge the student's understanding of the material, and see the areas, if any, where they still need help. In addition to tutoring, I enjoy traveling to new places, learning about different cultures, reading, and doing craft projects.
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Undergraduate Degree: University of West Georgia - Bachelors, Biology, General
Graduate Degree: Lincoln Memorial University - Masters, Biomedical Professions
Traveling, reading, cooking, hanging out with friends/ family, drawing, craft projects, learning about other cultures.
- American Literature
- College English
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- ESL/ELL
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- High School Level American Literature
- High School Writing
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- Middle School Writing
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is using the student's strengths to build up their area or areas of weakness(es). When I tutor, I find it essential to really listen to and observe the student in order to correctly identify where they are struggling. I then explain the concept, using various examples until the student understands the material. I am a visual learner, so I often explain concepts by drawing, using educational videos, creating diagrams, etc. I am also able to adapt my teaching style to the student since not everyone is a visual learner. I often have the student explain to me, in their own words, what I taught them. This lets me gauge the student's understanding of the material and see what areas, if any, they still need help.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In a typical first session with a student, I would take the time to talk to them, get to know them a little bit, and to better understand the area(s) for which they are seeking tutoring. I would also explain to them what my expectations are of them, and also what they can expect from me during the course of our sessions. I would also allow time for them to ask questions and also address any areas of concern they may have.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I can help a student become an independent learner by encouraging them to ask questions. I would let them know that it is perfectly okay to ask questions, regardless of whether they think the question is a 'smart' question or not. I would also encourage them to look information up as they learn -- from unknown vocabulary words to abstract concepts. This is a great way to promote active learning.