Mary: Alexandria tutor
Certified Tutor
I am passionate because I believe that a learning struggle is related to how your brain processes. This has NOTHING to do with intelligence!
I am an autism Mom of a daughter who has struggled in the school system since her elementary school days. She is now 20 years old. She was diagnosed with a vision and auditory processing disorder when she was a preteen. My eight year journey to help her led me to read many books, attend many conferences, webinars, teleconferences, connect on social media, become a Co-Author, and very recently an Author.
I have a Bachelors Degree in Social Welfare from the University of Alabama. I also very recently became a certified Brain Trainer with Life Kinetik.
My heart is with the elementary students. I know I can instill in them a belief that they can develop a love of learning! Your brain can always grow!!!
My outside interest is working hard to insure that every American does not lose their medical freedom and to help parents recover their children from "autism".
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Undergraduate Degree: The University of Alabama - Bachelors, Social Welfare
Life Kinetik, Contemporary Dance, Ballroom Dance
What is your teaching philosophy?
Every child is smart. If you are a struggling student, it has to do with processing, which has NOTHING to do with intelligence.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Find out from you why you think you are struggling.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Do strategic exercises, which cross the midline, along with a cognitive challenge over a period of time.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I would allow the student to take short brain breaks.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I would explore whether there is a possible visual processing disorder. I would also suggest using different color overlays while reading.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
When I work with my student, I need to have good energy and instill confidence.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I may help them understand why they are struggling, and let them know there is a solution.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I would give more examples, and maybe have the student come up with examples that they then can solve.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Spending time in the subject, with the goal of working independently.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I would be in tune with what the student is communicating to me verbally and nonverbally.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I know everyone learns differently. There are visual learners, auditory learners, and kinesthetic learners. I would do my best to teach the way the student learns.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Websites, colored overlays, pencil, eraser, whatever the child is working on, earphones and music that can help the brain focus.