
Tania
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: CUNY Brooklyn College - Bachelors, Business and Financial Management
Hiking, Watching Movies, Record Collecting
College English
Elementary School Math
High School English
Homework Support
Other
Study Skills
Study Skills and Organization
What is your teaching philosophy?
I want to bring my passion for learning to the people I teach. The right attitude and patience will motivate any student, no matter how much he or she is struggling, to work hard to improve.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
My first session would be mainly about learning about the student. I especially want to know what makes him or her struggle to grasp a particular concept or subject. Once I know more about the student, I can tailor a program to meet his or her needs.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Motivating the student by help him or her build skills needed to understand a subject will help him or her feel confident enough to at least attempt to work independent. Further encouragement will help him or her continue working independent to the point when the student is comfortable enough with the material alone.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Highlighting when he or she does something right will build confidence. I want the student to know that needing help is not a weakness.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, I will try to present the material in a different way. Much of my experience is in teaching large groups of students, so I know that some students learn differently from others.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
The best strategy I have found is to begin with asking the student very detailed questions about what he or she struggles with. I also ask what style of learning a student feels most comfortable with. After learning this information, I will tailor a program for that student.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
The easiest way to get a student excited/engaged with a subject is to relate it to something they enjoy. For example, I try to build reading skills by letting the student choose the book he or she wants to read. If the subject is Math, I might reference a character in a show I know the student watches.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I always give a detailed overview of the subject I am teaching and then provide an example. After this, I get the student to try to answer a question on his or her own. If the student gets it right, I would ask him or her to explain how. If he or she gets it wrong, I will then explain the concept again if he or she needs further clarification.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
By promoting independent work, I help the student gain confidence. I feel that giving the student work to be completed on his or her own, while I am there will help them practice the material. Also, he or she will know that I am still there to provide guidance if needed.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I evaluate a student's needs by asking questions about what he or she is struggling with, what material he or she does understand, and what style of learning works best for them. This assessment gives me a clear picture on what I need to focus on with the student.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I adapt my tutoring to a student's needs after I learn about his or her personality and needs. Being able to assess a student and stylize a program based on his or her needs is an essential skill to be successful as a tutor.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I typically start off with the books the student is given in school. I then add supplementary material such as worksheets and also online learning tools.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
In my years of experience teaching students to read, I have learned that the main struggle with reading comprehension is knowing how to read the words, but not understanding their meanings. I always ask students after each sentence to explain what it means. This gives me insight into whether or not the student comprehends. If he or she does not understand, I will explain the meanings of the words.