Gabrielle
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Santa Monica College - Bachelor in Arts, English & Communications
SAT Verbal: 780
SAT Writing: 700
I enjoy reading, writing, composing music, and eating delicious food. I also am a Rubik's Cube enthusiast, so if you have ever wanted to learn the beginner's method, I could probably help with that too!
10th Grade Reading
11th Grade Reading
1st Grade
2nd Grade Reading
8th Grade Reading
9th Grade Reading
9th Grade Writing
Adult Literacy
College English
Elementary School
Elementary School Reading
High School English
High School Writing
Middle School Reading
SAT Subject Test in Literature
Vocabulary
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that an interactive, systematic approach to learning is an essential key to success.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Introduce myself. Go over procedures, my teaching style, and expectations. Then, I would like to hear from the student about their expectations and educational goals.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Discussion, brainstorming, and any type of interactive learning are my preferred methods of supporting the development of independent learning.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I find that students are under immense pressure due to extracurricular activities, honors classes, and social demands. I find that going over the big picture with the student and then breaking that big picture into attainable, day by day goals can relieve some of the overwhelming feeling that many students experience.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I find that most of the time with reading comprehension, students can get overwhelmed by the amount of reading during assessments. One method I find helpful is to read the questions once through before going over the anecdote. That way you are generally aware of what questions need to be answered and can look for them accordingly.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
If a student has a hard time learning a new skill or concept and the conventional methods are to no avail, I like to try a creative, less traditional approach. I'm a big fan of using art, whether it be drawing, acting, singing, or spitting some sweet rhymes to grasp a difficult concept.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I find that having a game plan before heading into the bulk of any project is the best way to prepare for success.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I find that fusing subject material with a student's established interests is a good place to start. Sports, movies, and some popular culture are an excellent springboard for ideas.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
In terms of assessments, essays and short answer tests can be challenging, but are very useful in gauging a student's actual synthesis of the material. Also, multiple choice quizzes along the way can build a student's confidence in their proficiency.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I find that brief quizzes at the end of sections serve a two-fold purpose. They act as an immediate review of the material and they build the student's confidence section by section.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Despite being flexible in my teaching approach, I have a penchant for a traditional pen and paper approach to language arts. I believe that technology is an excellent tool, but is also a privilege that must be earned through exercises that do not involve screen time.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I endeavor to develop an open line of professional communication with each student. I believe that asking the student directly what he or she needs is an essential exercise in academic empowerment.