Christen
Certified Tutor
I am a recent graduate of Purdue University (Class of 2013) and a native of the south suburbs of Chicago. I currently work full-time for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. I've always had a strong interest in helping children reach their goals and volunteered with the children's ministry at my church and later became a youth soccer referee and coach. My senior year of high school, through my involvement in National Honor Society, I was given the opportunity to become a 5th grade tutor. I loved being able to see the tangible growth in my students' confidence and ability to complete their schoolwork. At Purdue I joined College Mentors for Kids and was able to tutor 2nd graders while pursuing my degree. I look forward to using these past experiences combined with my current role in Ladies of Virtue Mentoring to help Varsity Tutor students achieve their goals!
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Undergraduate Degree:Purdue University-Main Campus- Bachelor of Science, Accounting
Boxing, Traveling, Reading and Eating Great Food
- Arithmetic
- Elementary Math
- Elementary School Math
- Geometry
- Homework Support
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Other
- Pre-Algebra
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Summer
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In a typical first session with a student, I would first learn what their tutoring goals are and how they plan to measure those goals. From there, I would like to learn a little bit more about the student: their interests, hobbies, and long-term goals. Then, I would begin tutoring by incorporating real-life examples.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
First, I break reading down into the fundamentals instead of tackling multiple things at once. Second, I help students find reading material that interests them, whether it be books about fire trucks, American girl dolls, or Captain Underpants.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Asking students to explain concepts back to me in their own words and asking them to provide real world examples are two tools I would use to ensure that a student understands the material.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I typically use the student's own textbook, class notes, and other materials in combination with flashcards and charts.