Laura
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: University of Arizona - Bachelor of Science, Chemistry
Graduate Degree: University of Arizona - Master of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology
State Certified Teacher
mountain biking, hiking, and skiing
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
A student's confidence builds by seeing increased success and retelling the information to parents or siblings.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
To evaluate a student's needs, I observe their behavior and their skills based upon 25 years as a teacher. I can pick up on their innate intelligences by observation.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I adapt my tutoring to the needs of the student based upon what I perceive as the concepts they need the most help in to proceed to the next level.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I usually use the materials provided by the student's teacher, or I use my own materials in chemistry or math. I also send students screened YouTube videos for repetition of concepts.
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is that all children can learn provided they are given the appropriate tools.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In a typical first session with a student, I find out what the expectations of their teacher are, where they are in their grade and make a plan for improvement.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I help students become independent learners by using strategies that help them stay on track, and by being able to attack their homework and studying in a productive manner by getting beyond feelings of frustration and being overwhelmed.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Students stay motivated with they are successful. They are successful when they begin to understand what is happening in the classroom so that they can start to be engaged.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
When students have difficulty learning a skill or concept, then the skill needs to be broken down into smaller pieces, or the concept requires understanding a prior concept that must be identified and taught.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Students who have difficulty with reading comprehension do much better when they read sentences out loud, stopping at the end of each sentence and making sure they understand its meaning before moving on to the next sentence. In addition, I teach the Cornell Note taking method, which helps students process the information that they are reading.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
It is most important to get to know the student and become aware of their learning style.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would help a student get engaged in the material by giving background to the importance of learning it as it relates to other areas, such as how math is used in the sciences.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
The technique I use to be sure a student understands the material is to have them retell it to me or write a brief description on what they need to remember for the exam related to the material. In addition, I teach a specific study skill which allows them to identify any "holes" in their understanding of the "story." It is important to understand the whole story.