Vicky
Certified Tutor
As a certified teacher, you can count on me to help you or your child improve their reading, writing, piano, general music, music theory, or chess skills! I also offer a course in bird identification.
Since 2006, I have prepared students to meet reading, writing, speaking and listening standards for high stakes test-taking,
I received my master's degree and certification in Education with honors from Hofstra University in 2005. I was an elementary classroom teacher for general education and gifted/talented students in a top district of New York City public schools for over ten years. My training includes years of working with consultants from Ivy League's Columbia University Teachers College in the subjects of Reading and Writing. Having relocated in 2016, I now teach literacy in elementary school for one of the the highest rated districts in Tennessee. I have also taught online students in all subjects since 2012.
I have assessments and materials available to make sure I meet your child where he or she is, and understand his or her strengths and challenges, in order to quickly build towards individual goals.
Since 2009 I have also offered support as a certified personal life coach with a certificate in cognitive behavioral therapy. In addition, I earned two professional certificates in mentoring, which I have been practicing since 2011.
I have a certificate in chess education from University of Texas. I have led many students and teams to win trophies at chess tournaments. Your child will quickly see that learning chess online is fun and engaging!
As for teaching piano, For over twenty years I have been giving music theory and piano lessons. I can prepare students for RCM, ABRSM, and NYSMMA exams if desired. I'm also happy to teach someone who wants to learn piano for their own enjoyment.
On my own, I have participated in many musical endeavors as a manager and/or performer, including for two Christian bands, and have recorded two CDs.
My pre-teaching background includes public relations, editing, and working to promote tourism with VIPs in NYC. As an advertising executive, I interviewed and hired many applicants, and am available to help you with your resume and interviewing skills.
I also greatly enjoy identifying birds and viewing wildlife, and teach bird identification to homebound seniors through a volunteer online enrichment program. If you want to learn about bird identification, I can teach that also!
Regardless of the topic, you and our child will find me to be kind, patient, fun, and engaging.
I know there is no more important position than that of being a responsible and caring educator/coach, and I look forward to working with you and/or your child.
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Undergraduate Degree: Pace University-New York - Bachelors, Professional Studies
Graduate Degree: Hofstra University - Masters, Education
Chess, Piano, Ornithology
- Accompaniment
- Adult Literacy
- Art
- CLEP Prep
- CLEP Introductory Sociology
- Composition
- Creative Writing
- Elementary School
- Elementary School English
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- Fiction Writing
- Handwriting
- Introduction to Fiction
- ISEE Prep
- ISEE- Lower Level
- ISEE- Middle Level
- ISEE-Lower Level Reading Comprehension
- ISEE-Lower Level Verbal Reasoning
- ISEE-Middle Level Reading Comprehension
- ISEE-Middle Level Verbal Reasoning
- ISEE-Upper Level Verbal Reasoning
- Math
- Middle School English
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- Middle School Writing
- Music
- Music Theory
- Other
- Phonics
- Piano
- Poetry
- PRAXIS
- PRAXIS Elementary School
- Professional Certifications
- Public Speaking
- SSAT Prep
- SSAT- Elementary Level
- STAAR Grades 3-8 Prep
- Test Prep
- Vocal Training
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
My philosophy of education centers on the firm belief that it is essential for me to know and connect with every student, and to let them be aware that their unique identity is an integral and active part of our classroom, which must be a welcoming and safe environment for all. I know that each child can learn through varied portals about different subjects. I incorporate a number of slants into lessons in order to engage more than one learning style. Modeling procedures, and allowing students to construct their own knowledge, are fundamental elements of a successful lesson. In addition, students should feel encouraged, cared for and valued while being led to learn. I find an ongoing personal fulfillment in seeing that my students love learning, and I know there is no more important position than that of being a responsible and caring educator.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
The first session would start with sharing mutual introductions, and finding a connection of sorts in order for the student to feel at ease with me for the time ahead. Next, I would ask for a clarification of what the student wants to get out of our time together. It is important to first set goals for sessions, and then to revisit them at the end to close the lesson.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Facilitating students to make real-world connections with a subject is a proven way to motivate them and increases engagement and learning.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
It is important for me to ascertain at what level of understanding the student is already reading, and then I would ask tiered text-dependent questions based on Bloom's Taxonomy or Depths of Knowledge. With support, I help students gain confidence in finding these answers in a text. Helping students to locate keywords or synonyms from the questions and to create images based on text noticeably increases reading comprehension and inferencing. Teaching my students great strategies to use when answering multiple-choice questions also boosts their scores.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Some of the most successful ways to help a student to stay motivated include positive reinforcement in way of specific praise; making connections between the work at hand with the student's life, the student's interests, offering real-world applications, and by substituting the student's own name and setting into the passages or problems whenever possible.