
Mallory
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Bowling Green State University-Main Campus - Bachelors, Middle Childhood Education
Graduate Degree: University of Arizona - Current Grad Student, Education
I have wide array of interests! I enjoy traveling, board games, knitting, reading, going to the gym and being with my friends.
College English
College Level American History
Comparative Literature
High School English
High School Level American History
Other
Study Skills
Study Skills and Organization
US History
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe all students can learn, but all students learn differently. I feel a teacher needs to know their student as a person in order to help them reach their goals.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Depending on the needs of the student, I would spend the majority of the time getting to know the student. I would talk to them about their interests, feelings about school, what they think is easy and what they think is difficult. Making a connection is the first step to creating a successful learning environment.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
There are multiple strategies to help a student stay motivated. A student's needs will always determine specific motivational strategies, but in general I use a lot of verbal encouragement. I focus on encouraging students for giving their best effort and doing their best, and improving from where they are.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would start by asking the student to explain the concept or demonstrate the skill to the best of their abilities. This will provide me with a baseline of their comprehension and we can improve from there. After evaluating what they know, I would begin re-teaching the concept. I would use as many resources as needed, such as graphic organizers or manipulatives. Before moving on to the next skill or concept, I would make sure the student has a firm grasp of the current skill.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I would begin with gathering as much information as I could about the students reading problems. I would speak to the student, and, if applicable, their parents, about where the student feels frustrated and what they feel they struggle with. I would also use some basic grade level assessments to establish the nature of the problems. I would start with phonics and fluency, and progress to evaluating comprehension. I would then use graphic organizers and think-alouds to support students and help them increase their reading skills.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
The materials I use vary based on the student’s needs. In general, I use personal white boards, graphic organizers, highlighters and sticky notes. The students can keep the graphic organizers and I can provide extras if they find them helpful. Highlighters and sticky notes help when I teach students how to color code and annotate notes. If I think another manipulative or material will be helpful I will usually provide it during following sessions.