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Ken

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I received my undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois. My master's degree was earned from Webster College in St. Louis, Missouri. My B.A. degree is in Speech and Theatre with minors in English and Education. My master's is in Communications/Media Studies. I taught college freshmen Rhetoric and Public Address at the University of Illinois. I taught high school junior and senior English in St. Louis Public Schools for seven years.

I left teaching and went into broadcasting and was on the air in radio also for seven years, and, at the same time, I trained broadcasters at Radio Television Broadcast Institute in St. Louis.

I teach English Grammar and Composition grades seven to the second year of college. I teach English and American Literature, grades seven to college level. I have extensive knowledge of the poem, the play, the short story and novel. Grammar, syntax, writing and the oral form, and public speaking are all areas in which I am trained and areas in which I have taught.

I currently have thirty plus books in my private library from which I draw for tutoring work.

My favorite subject to tutor is the English language. I seriously considered doing a PhD in semantics, the study of words and their meaning. I have been intent on building an extensive vocabulary from my early days in high school. At the same time, I have an equal passion for the literature, both English and American.

My tutoring style is tapered to the individual. Unlike the classroom setting where it is presumed every student is at the same level and the lecture style is the most popular approach, I find the student at his or her level and employ techniques and specially designed lesson plans to meet the specific needs and take the individual to the next level. I have excellent communication skills.

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Ken’s Qualifications

Education & Certification

Undergraduate Degree: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville - Bachelors, Speech and Theatre and minor in English

Graduate Degree: Webster College Webster Groves Missouri - Masters, Media Studies

Hobbies

audiophile, record collector

Tutoring Subjects

American Literature

College English

College Level American Literature

English

English Grammar and Syntax

ESL/ELL

High School English

High School Level American Literature

High School Writing

Middle School Reading

Middle School Reading Comprehension

Middle School Writing

Public Speaking

Writing

Q & A

What is your teaching philosophy?

My approach in a tutoring situation differs from the traditional lecture format that prevails in the classroom setting. That approach presumes that all students are on the same level and the lesson plans are geared to meet course requirements. My approach with the individual is to identify the needs and taper the teaching approach to their level to meet their goals. These make require special exercises and lesson plans.

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

I would take the time to conduct a personal interview to determine the level at which they are performing. I would then determine their needs. If some of their work were available, I would peruse it. I would then chart a course. I would have plenty of resource material with me from which I would initiate a program.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I would expose the student to the related resources. I would then structure the material in a logical progression so they would realize the learning curve.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would keep the student motivated by providing materials so that they could see growth. I think a sense of accomplishment is central to motivation.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

I would focus on the problem area with specific materials and drill. I would also locate many different ways to articulate the concept, perhaps invoking the analogy or metaphor.

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

I would explain the structure of the material. How to identify a theme, identify a topic sentence, and how to ferret out the central ideas.

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

Establishing rapport and initiating reciprocity and feedback I found to be effective strategies.

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

Locate the source of the subject matter that is creating the issues. Take the subject matter to a level where they can see progress. Draw any related material to the subject to create interest. Help them to see the relevance.

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

Written and oral testing, and then repeat the process.

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

Taking the subject matter to his level, and then letting him enjoy some accomplishment in the tutorial process.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

By perusing work they have done. Determine the existing level. Specially design tests.

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

Determine the level. The needs will determine the pedagogical techniques. A lecture format may be required or an informal interactive approach.

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

I have thirty resource works here on my bookshelves as of this writing. Fifteen of them on English Grammar and Composition and fifteen are Magill's Masterplots with outlines of every major work in world literature. I would research student needs, Google appropriate information and print it, and pull from my resources and bring the pertinent information with me.

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