Sally
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: University of Georgia - Bachelor in Arts, Linguistics (French Minor)
Cooking, Gardening, Reading, Friends and Family, and My Dog
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
It is important to get an idea of the student's current level in the subject. Reviewing the student's most recent homework assignment together would be a good place to start.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I would try to allow the student to come to the correct answer on their own by encouraging them to think out loud and giving feedback.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Some students need more help than others to stay motivated. I know I'm personally motivated by the possibility of winning candy.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I try to break it into simpler concepts or describe it in different ways until they understand.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I try to assess what about the reading challenges them. It might be as simple as needing more work with the vocabulary so that they recognize the words more easily in the new context of a block of text.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
It is important that the student feels comfortable with me and sees that I'm not going to push them harder than I think that they're ready for.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would show the student the world of possibilities they open to themselves by learning a new language.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I would be sure to present the material in many different ways and have the student spend extra time drilling important basics.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I would use lots of positive reinforcement and avoid focusing on mistakes.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I review their previous work in the subject and ask a series of increasingly more difficult questions about the subject material.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Some students need more time with oral explanation of the material, while some need to see it written, or work through it on their own with guidance. There are many learning styles and just as many teaching styles.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I use pen and paper, related images from my iPad, colored markers, and even candy sometimes.
What is your teaching philosophy?
There is no such thing as an incapable student; each student simply needs to find the right teacher.