
Victor
Certified Tutor
I believe in helping students develop the skills that lie within him/her so that they are prepared for all education situations in life.
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Undergraduate Degree: Madonna University - Bachelors, English
Graduate Degree: Marygrove College - Masters, The Art of Teaching
Reading, writing (poetry, short stories, plays, novels, etc), basketball, softball, volleyball.
- Adult ESL/ELL
- Adult Literacy
- American Literature
- Elementary School Reading
- English
- ESL/ELL
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- High School Level American Literature
- High School Writing
- Other
- Writing
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Get to know the student to understand what their needs are and how I can best help them.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I help students struggling with reading comprehension by reading the material with the student. Once the difficult area has been identified, then we make associations from the reading with what the student already knows, increasing the likelihood that the student will comprehend the material more effectively.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Being honest with a student. Once that has been established, then students know that I am there for their education. From that point, strategies like Venn diagrams, graphic organizers, and mnemonic techniques will help the student become more successful.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I am usually pretty excited about education. I find excitement about education is contagious. I would also show the student the aspects of the subject they haven't considered. We would identify the conflicts the student has with the subject and find the joys in getting past the information they struggled with initially.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I would be honest with a student about where they are and let them know where their strengths are. From that point, I would move from the simple to the complex with the lessons and concepts I would teach them. By taking that approach, the student can build confidence in themselves to challenge themselves with more difficult concepts and subjects.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I evaluate a student's needs by what they tell me and what I observe in the work and our interaction.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I adapt my tutoring based on where I see successes and difficulties in the student. If they are successful in an area, we would look at that success and give positive feedback to the student in order to build their confidence. If a student is struggling in other areas, I would address what is in need of modification in order for the student to be successful.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
The materials I use are typically, pen, pencil, paper, discussion, the Internet and an electronic device.
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that education is the most important aspect of life. Seeking to learn more challenging information prepares a student--a person-- for all aspects of education they may encounter in the future. The challenge prepares and allows the student to better resolve any conflict that they may encounter, be it academic or life experience. My job is to help a student develop the skills within them so that they may be successful in life.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I help a student become an independent learner by building their confidence and then giving them increasing opportunities to demonstrate their independence through lessons, speaking, writing, reading.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I would help students remain motivated by checking up with the student periodically. Encouraging the student to do the best they can, and complimenting them in order to build their confidence.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
If a student is having difficulty with a skill or a concept, we would talk about it. Once the difficulty has been addressed and identified, we would tackle how to resolve that difficulty. Whether it was using different resources or different approaches. Each attempt would bring us closer to understanding and resolving the difficulty presented.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I would and do check with the student. It is not in the question that I ask about understanding; it is about what they demonstrate to me that shows what they truly understand. I would ask for articulated understanding of what the material covered. Through this exchange, I would be able to understand exactly what needs to be concentrated on for student success.