Mimi
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: University of Rhode Island - Bachelors, Accounting
Graduate Degree: Bryant University - Masters, Accounting
Reading, swimming, and art
10th Grade Reading
11th Grade Reading
12th Grade Reading
1st Grade
1st Grade Math
1st Grade Reading
1st Grade Writing
2nd Grade
2nd Grade Math
2nd Grade Reading
2nd Grade Writing
3rd Grade
3rd Grade Math
3rd Grade Reading
3rd Grade Writing
4th Grade
4th Grade Math
4th Grade Reading
4th Grade Writing
5th Grade
5th Grade Math
5th Grade Reading
5th Grade Writing
6th Grade Reading
7th Grade Reading
8th Grade Reading
9th Grade Reading
Adult Literacy
Business
CLEP Financial Accounting
College Accounting
College English
Elementary Algebra
Elementary School
Elementary School Math
Elementary School Reading
Elementary School Writing
Financial Accounting
Handwriting
High School Accounting
High School Business
High School English
Homework Support
Managerial Accounting
Middle School Reading
Other
Study Skills
Study Skills and Organization
Summer
Technical Writing
Vocabulary
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
It depends on the age of the student. The younger student needs to gain your trust and friendship before any real work can begin. The older student needs to know you as a person and really feel that you are there for them.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Independence comes when a student starts to gain confidence in their abilities. Confidence comes when a realization that mistakes are good, since they provide an opportunity to learn and better ourselves.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
When students see improvements...that in itself is the best motivator.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Communicate to them that we all have skills that take us longer than others, and that that is ok. Sometimes the best thing is to take a short break for that particular skill and revisit in a few days...this avoids frustration.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Provide multiple approaches to learning until you find the best approach for that student...this will depend on the student's age, abilities and the type of book we are working on.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Through the initial background evaluation, try to grasp on to a few areas where you share something. Share with the student as an initial means of breaking the ice. For the older students, they need to see you as a person before they see you as a teacher.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Have them plan the lesson with you. Have them add components that interest them The more they are involved with their learning, the more they will be committed to it.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Multiple strategies. You have to keep trying until you find what works for that particular student. Sometimes it is the most outlandish strategies that work.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
By reversing roles and having them teach the concepts to you.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Multiple and ongoing screenings. By gaining their trust and confidence, where they tell you the areas they feel they are weak in.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
This is imperative! A teacher needs to be flexible and have an array of tools in their "toolbox" that can be used at different times.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I am an advocate for multisensory approaches to learning. This is a researched approach. I use everything from shaving cream to sand to knitting boards to activate learning through our senses.
What is your teaching philosophy?
A good teacher must wear many hats: one of instructor, mentor, facilitator, advisor, and counselor. I believe that for effective learning to occur, two elements must occur, simultaneously; effective teaching, as well as a true desire to learn. Instructor and student must become equal partners within the learning process. In order to facilitate this partnership, my role as instructor is to provide each student with the type of instruction that best suits their individual learning style. Instructors must be able to be flexible enough in order to reach out to many different learners. As an instructor, I employ many different teaching methods and assessments. I am always accessible to my students, and always remind them that we learn from each other. My classroom is one of an open environment, where students always feel comfortable enough to say that they do not understand something. My teaching philosophy stems from a true love of teaching and interaction with students. The reward and satisfaction of imparting information to another person and knowing that you have truly left that student more knowledgeable, is truly an honor. I look forward to continuing teaching and learning from my students.