Justine: Edmonton tutor
Certified Tutor
Hello, I'm AJ! I'm currently getting my MFA is Studio Art at UGA. I love teaching people new things and passing on my own concepts and understandings of various topics. This job benefits me as a tutor and you as a student in allowing us to both develop in our skill sets. My favorite hobbies are writing, drawing, and traveling. For me, using study aids that are outside of the box help me memorize my school work while using unique techniques, and I want that to be shown to other students as well.
My teaching philosophy is to create an environment that encourages student learning and allows students to approach me for further understanding. I acknowledge and understand that every student's learning style is different. Rather than look down on a student's failure, I encourage a reflection on their failure in order to develop their skills and understanding. It's with failure that the students can further develop an understanding of what their work means to them and their audience.
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Undergraduate Degree: Georgia Gwinnett College - Current Undergrad, Education
Drawing, Writing, Photography, Exercising
- Adult Literacy
- Algebra
- Art
- College English
- College Level American History
- Creative Writing
- Drawing
- Elementary School Science
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Essay Editing
- Ethics
- Fiction Writing
- Fine Arts
- High School English
- High School Level American History
- History
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Writing
- Painting
- Pre-Algebra
- Printmaking
- Social Studies
- Visual Arts
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I want you to enjoy learning as much as I enjoy teaching so that we can get you to succeed and progress to your full potential.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I work through observations. I would allow the student to work as they normally do and see where the disconnect is in order to create a plan to correct it. This allows me to teach them at a level that they understand without creating frustration and stress for the student.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
The best way for me to help the student is by teaching them critical-thinking skills as well as showing them my own tips and techniques for getting through my own learning difficulties.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Changing the way you teach helps keep the student active and motivated through the lesson. Periodic breaks also help the student not get worn out and bored with the topic. Teach as if you are teaching yourself.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Find the disconnect. I would watch the student as we solved a problem to see where they get confused, and backtrack to that part with a different approach to see if that works better.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Being able to create a conversation from what you just read allows you to be able to process and understand the reading at hand. Speaking aloud helps the motors in your brain turn in order to understand the text that was just read.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Talking to the student and finding out how they study has always helped me find where to start and move with the student. If you understand how they go about studying, it will help with creating a plan of study that doesn't completely throw them off from the way they are used to studying.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Being able to show real-life comparison with the topics of study keeps the student involved when you show how the topics relate to current events happening to us now. Finding that connection between their work and their life is what the student will need in order to pull them into their schoolwork.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Students react well to having positive comments towards their work. Having that positive affirmation as they work will make them happier as they progress with their work and, as a tutor, showing my own excitement for them getting the information correct has a positive effect on the student. It rubs off on them, and they get excited as well.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Seeing their past works and how they currently keep their school notes is an excellent way of seeing where my input and help is needed. I won't just jump right into it. I need to understand where they need help, so that we can work on that first and foremost.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Talking to the student and learning their personality helps understand what will keep them engaged and focused as you work. For example, an artistic student would need exercises that would require creativity and movement. As they're having fun doing their work, the lessons are staying with them, and the concepts are staying with them as they work.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I would never assume the student understands the topic. Repetition is what works best when it comes to understanding various topics. It helps to have short five question quizzes to check if they understand the topic, especially covering the items that gave them difficulty throughout the lessons.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I mainly use flashcards, games, videos, and the textbook. I also use books from the libraries as well as my own personal whiteboard.