Tiffany
Certified Tutor
My favorite subject in school was and still is reading. I love studying various author crafts as well as comparing multiple works of literature. In my classroom I love bringing the excitement and joy of reading alive for my students. As a teacher with years of experience, I have encountered scholars with diverse reading levels and abilities. Although multiple strategies are used to reach each and every one of my students, one thing they all have in common is a shared love and appreciation for reading.
While reading is my favorite, I have tutored students in phonics, writing, and elementary math. In each of these subjects, my goal and objective is for my scholars to become independent learners using the skills that I share with them.
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Undergraduate Degree: Long Island University - Bachelors, Education
Graduate Degree:Fordham University- Master of Science, Students with Disabilities
State Certified Teacher
Some of my hobbies include cooking, traveling, and dancing.
- College English
- Elementary Math
- Elementary School Math
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- High School English
- Math
- Other
- Phonics
- Reading
- SHSATPrep
- Special Education
- SSAT Prep
- SSAT- Upper Level
- TACHS Prep
- Test Prep
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that all students are capable of learning. Once provided with the right tools, strategies, and supports, children are capable of being successful in all areas of education. While explicit instruction is important, I feel that setting a student up to independently demonstrate, utilize, and create their own knowledge is the most important skill that I can teach my students.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
During the first session with a student, I would provide an interest assessment to both the parent and the student. I would then give a baseline assessment to the student to see where I should begin instruction. I would also be interested in taking a look at homework assignments to get an idea of what the student is currently learning in the classroom. Once I have all of this information, I would speak with the parent about my instructional plan for the student.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I employ the "I do, we do, you do" model. While the student is showing me what they can do, I oftentimes ask the student to explain their thought process to me. If the student is able to explain their thought process to me to achieve the correct answer, they have shown that they understand the current concept. However, if they are unable to explain their answer, I know that I need to review some strategies with the student again. I also use a strategy where I purposefully make a mistake and the student must tell me what I did wrong. I allow them to teach me.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I would help a student stay motivated by setting up a schedule where I incorporate energizers throughout the lesson. In the past, I've also utilized sticker charts with my students.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I provide students who are struggling with reading comprehension with a toolkit of strategies to use when reading. For my younger students, I encourage them to use the pictures in a book to make sense of the events in a story. I also incorporate stop and jot activities so the students can connect the events of the story across all pages. With my older students, I incorporate reading responses as well as questions that require text-based answers. With all groups of students, I use graphic organizers.