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Kelsy

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One of my favorite quotes about learning was said by Mr. Benjamin Franklin, "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." I love teaching and sharing knowledge; I also love to learn, which is the greatest thing about being a tutor, not only are you teaching but you are being taught as well. I have worked with kids for a couple of years now, teaching swim lessons, and coaching swim team. I was a 4-year Division 1 athlete, and recently finished my swimming career last February. I am also a recent graduate from Boise State University with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. I have worked through many challenges from time constraints to ADHD, I know that sometimes learning is difficult and never the same for each child, but I also know that everyone can learn; its just finding out what works best for you.

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Kelsy’s Qualifications

Education & Certification

Undergraduate Degree: Boise State University - Bachelor in Arts, Psychology

Hobbies

Teaching and interior design

Tutoring Subjects

10th Grade Math

12th Grade Math

1st Grade Math

9th Grade Math

Algebra

Algebra 2

Anatomy

Anatomy & Physiology

Chemistry

College Algebra

College Chemistry

College English

Elementary Math

Elementary School Math

English

High School Chemistry

High School English

Math

Middle School Math

Physiology

Pre-Algebra

Psychology

Science

Social Sciences

Writing

Q & A

What is your teaching philosophy?

"If you can not teach it simply you do not know it well enough," Einstein said that, and I have to agree; if I am going to teach you anything, I first must know it well enough to explain it simply.

What might you do in a typical first session with a student?

When first meeting anyone, I like to introduce myself, tell them what I do, and open up and be real with my students. I then like to ask them questions about themselves and what I can help them with. Finally, I ask them what they would like to learn and how I can help them because at the end of the day it's really about what I can do for the student.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Encourage them to work on problems between sessions. For example, I will walk a student through a problem then give them a similar problem to solve on their own. Then, not only do they gain confidence in their own ability but we can also work together to target any weaknesses or confusion.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Treats. I am a huge advocate for munch and learn. Or taking breaks, for example let's finish this, then take a 5 minute break and talk about something really random. This not only helps me get to know them, but it helps the student to get more comfortable and relaxed.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

Depending on how long we have been working on it, move on to something they do understand that is related to the topic. This way, they gain their self-confidence back and maybe the short break will help them understand the skill or concept previously worked on. If they still don't get it, I break it down to simpler steps until they understand something, and then we work together to learn how it relates to the original concept.

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

Shortcut reading, by reading the first and last sentence of a paragraph then reading the whole paragraph while looking for a purpose or theme. Then, as you move on to the next section using the same reading method you think about how the previous paragraph relates.

What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?

Start each session by going over something they know and are comfortable with and do a few problems like that, then work on an area they don't know. This allows the student to have confidence but also not be afraid to get something wrong. Finally, being honest and real with each student, giving them encouragement where needed, and setting them up for success when they study on their own is a good technique.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?

If it's math, bring in visuals, pictures, and play dough. If it's reading comprehension or writing, encourage the use of colors and doodles. I love to make each session new and interesting so it's not the same boring tutoring session. We tend to always do something a little different.

What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?

Give them a similar problem to the one they are working on and ask them to solve it. After doing so, I ask them to teach me how to do it or explain what they did. If they can do that easily, then I have confidence that they not only know the material, but they also feel confident enough to explain to me how they solved the problem.

How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?

I encourage the student to focus on what they know, then we build on that. This way, the foundation they build on is confidently set.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I ask the student where they feel like they need help. If they don't know, I ask for the last test that they took, and I go over it with them to understand what concepts they are misunderstanding. And then we build on those concepts.

How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?

I have worked with a lot of students, many with learning disabilities and a few who are visually impaired/blind, so I have learned to be flexible with each session. I understand that not all students can learn material the same way; therefore, I determine early how a student learns, either visually, through word, or by example. Many times, it's a combination of learning styles. Then, I adapt the session as needed.

What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?

Many times, I will rely on what the student has, and in math, I focus on the tests. The tests tell you a lot about how a teacher grades and asks questions. I try to adapt my lessons around what the teacher expects. By doing so, the student becomes better able to answer questions asked in a similar manner as the questions on their tests.

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