Danielle
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: San Diego State University - Bachelor of Science, Marketing
Graduate Degree: University of Southern California - Master in Public Health Administration, MPA
Speech and Debate, Disney/Disneyland, reading, volunteering, history, movies, music (almost all types), water activities, traveling
College English
College Level American History
College World History
Comparative Literature
High School English
High School Level American History
High School World History
Management
Marketing
Study Skills and Organization
Summer
World History
What is your teaching philosophy?
Many people teach so that you can understand what's in front of you in that moment. I believe in teaching foundational skills to help you figure out anything that's placed in front of you in the future.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I like to use the first session as a gauge to ensure we don't waste time in the future. What does the student already know? Where do they need assistance? What's their personality style, and how does that translate into the best way to ensure understanding and engagement?
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I don't just teach students how to come up with an answer, but I teach them how to problem solve for future problems.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Every student is different. In order to answer this question I would have to figure out what motivates them.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Find another way to present the information to them. Everyone is different, and that extends to how we comprehend things. I'm a visual learner, for instance. Therefore, I often have to break long dense reading assignments into charts so I can "see" what I'm reading and how it fits together.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
There are many different ways, but I like to start off by making sure they understand active reading principles. If there's still something not catching on after that, I try to assess what that is. For instance, once a child was having a difficult time with reading period. If I read it to them, they comprehended everything completely. Once their reading caught up, so did their comprehension. Another child was an ESL student who was struggling with vocabulary. So, I taught her the foundation of the English language to help with current and future vocabulary words.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Assessing the needs, strengths, and motivations of the child is the most important step. From there, I know how to build from there and how to keep them engaged and hopefully combat frustration.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Incorporating things that they enjoy. If they like games, then I make it into a game or find one. If they like music, we try to incorporate it into a song or find programs during breaks. I like to use these as much as possible, but I will often use them as a reward for getting through the monotonous sections.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I always start with pre-tests to gauge the current level of the student. After that, I like to have a review at the end of a session and start new sessions with a recap of what they learned before. If something isn't sticking, we find a new way to cement it in there.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
This is dear to my heart, as I struggled with confidence problems growing up. I believe in positive reinforcement and encouragement. Shifting perceptions is also important. It's not that "you can't" do something. You just haven't found your way of doing it yet. But we'll find it, together.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Pre-tests of information at their level, as well as things below their level so that I know where they are. I'd test things above their level as well. People sometimes focus too much on what they can't do at the cost of what they can. Not only can that be demoralizing to someone who's struggling, but you're failing to capitalize on the strengths of the student.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
All I do is adapt. I don't have a specific tutoring style except to figure out what my client will understand.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Again, that depends on the student and the subject. I've found flashcards are usually good for things that can only be memorized, like sight words. But beyond that it can be workbooks, printouts, or even the computer