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Kallan

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I am the eldest of three sisters and therefore a life long tutor and mentor. I grew up helping my sisters with their homework, editing their papers, and eventually helping them through college applications and entrance exams. My duties as oldest child also included serving as a mentor and confidante for my sisters from their elementary school days through college, and so I'm quite comfortable working with students of all ages.

I grew up outside of Chicago and then attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut. After graduating from Wesleyan with a degree in Film Studies in 2014, I moved to Los Angeles where I worked in film and television production for 2 years. I recently moved to San Francisco and I love exploring the natural and cultural beauty of my new Northern California home!

My specialties are in the realms of reading and writing, including test prep for the verbal sections of the ACT and GRE. I studied French language for 6 years and so am also available for assistance with Introductory French work. I look forward to working with you or your child!

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Kallan’s Qualifications

Education & Certification

Undergraduate Degree: Wesleyan University - Bachelors, Film Studies

Test Scores

ACT Composite: 34

ACT English: 35

ACT Math: 32

ACT Reading: 36

ACT Science: 31

Hobbies

I love watching and talking about movies, reading and talking about books, exploring beautiful Northern California and playing music!

Tutoring Subjects

ACT English

ACT Reading

ACT Writing

College Application Essays

English

Essay Editing

Graduate Test Prep

GRE Analytical Writing

GRE Verbal

High School English

High School Writing

Middle School Reading

Middle School Reading Comprehension

Middle School Writing

Other

Test Prep

Writing

Q & A

What might you do in a typical first session with a student?

The first thing I would want to do is talk with the student about what they are struggling with, what they want to work on, and really listen to what they have to say. Once I understand where they feel they need the most help, I would go through some example problems with them (whether it be homework or test prep) and further delve into what exactly they are struggling with, help them understand the reasoning behind which answers are correct, and offer suggestions and techniques for improving those problem areas.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help a student become an independent learner by working with them to gain an understanding of how they learn, what their strengths are, and where they struggle the most. Then, using that understanding, I can suggest strategies for how the student can improve their grasp of certain concepts or topics on their own. Helping them see their own strengths and problem areas will give them the self-awareness and confidence they need to become an accomplished independent learner.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Pointing out how much progress a student has made as a result of their own hard work is a great way to help them stay motivated. Sometimes a loss of motivation is related to a lack of self-confidence or doubt in one's own abilities, so consistently reminding a student of their strengths and progress can be a big help!

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

The first thing I would do is try to figure out why exactly they are struggling or what is causing them the most trouble. I've found that a major source of difficulty for students struggling with reading comprehension is that they feel like they can't focus and are getting lost in the sentences without grasping the meaning. In addition to practicing reading with them and going through comprehension questions together, I encourage them to take their time, re-read a sentence whenever they need to, and to breathe and relax! Every student is different, but often, reading comprehension can improve through lots of practice and through the enhanced confidence and calm that comes with being equipped with good strategies when sitting down with a passage or book.

What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?

One of the best strategies I've found is to just start working together, going through practice problems or past homework assignments and getting a sense of where they are. Hearing from them about where they feel their strengths and weaknesses lie is important as well, and combining these two strategies (discussion and actual work) is a great way to start working with a student.

What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?

I always ask the student to explain why they came to a certain answer to make sure they understand why it is correct. If they don't understand or can't figure out the answer, I talk through it with them until they can come to the correct conclusion. I never answer the question for them right off the bat or just tell them the answer without an explanation in order to ensure that they understand the material themselves and are not just copying what I say.

How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?

The best way to build a student's confidence in a subject is to allow them to succeed on their own. By working together and improving their skills, I hope to build the student's confidence by showing them that they can come to the correct answers independently and that achieving understanding is within their power.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I evaluate a student's needs through a combination of speaking to them (and/or their parent) about what they feel they need to work on and assessing that for myself by working through practice or homework problems together.

How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?

I like to completely adapt my tutoring by the student's needs in several ways, including: -Always beginning work with a student by asking them about their goals. -Doing work together based on their particular strengths and weakness. -Checking in throughout the tutoring session to see how they feel about what we've worked on so far, always giving them an opportunity to ask clarifying questions about anything we've worked on, or to spend more time on a particular topic.

What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?

It depends on the topic I am tutoring, but I like to come prepared with any outside materials I myself have used (e.g. test prep books, textbooks), practice questions from the tutoring website, and my own notes and ideas for the particular session. I also ask students to share materials they have been using with me before the session so I can be prepared to work with them on those.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?

One of the best ways to help a student get excited and engaged is to give them confidence. If a student feels like they are good at something, they are more likely to be excited about and interested in it. By improving their skills, and therefore confidence, I am able to help students become more positive about a previously difficult or less than favorite subject.

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