Samantha
Certified Tutor
I am a former licensed educator with almost ten years' experience teaching and tutoring.
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Undergraduate Degree:Wesleyan University- Bachelors, Psychology
Graduate Degree:Boston University- Masters, Education
- GMAT VERBAL: 690
- GRE Analytical Writing: 5.5
Traveling, languages, hiking, singing, reading
- ACT Writing
- Adult Literacy
- American Sign Language
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Science
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- ESL/ELL
- Essay Editing
- Graduate Test Prep
- GRE Verbal
- HSPT Prep
- ISEE Prep
- ISEE-Lower Level Mathematics Achievement
- ISEE-Lower Level Quantitative Reasoning
- ISEE-Lower Level Reading Comprehension
- ISEE-Lower Level Verbal Reasoning
- ISEE-Lower Level Writing
- ISEE-Middle Level Mathematics Achievement
- ISEE-Middle Level Quantitative Reasoning
- ISEE-Middle Level Reading Comprehension
- ISEE-Middle Level Verbal Reasoning
- ISEE-Middle Level Writing
- ISEE-Upper Level Mathematics Achievement
- ISEE-Upper Level Quantitative Reasoning
- ISEE-Upper Level Verbal Reasoning
- ISEE-Upper Level Writing
- Languages
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- Middle School Writing
- Other
- Pre-Algebra
- PSAT Critical Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- Science
- Special Education
- SSAT Prep
- SSAT- Elementary Level
- Test Prep
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
My number one priority is ensuring each individual student meets his/her goals. I adapt my teaching approach to meet the needs of each student, and I never lower my expectations in the face of challenges. I believe there are infinite ways to teach anything to anyone, and my aim is to find the best way for each student.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would spend some time introducing ourselves and establishing a great rapport with my student. I would ensure that I utilized the session to become crystal clear about my student's goals, struggles, and learning style. Of course, we would also spend time diving into the student's work to help him or her feel successful right away.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I utilize scaffolding and decreasing support in my teaching style. I typically begin by showing the student how to do something, then doing it together with the student, and then decreasing support at an appropriate rate until the student can do the work independently.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I work hard to keep sessions engaging appropriate to my student's age, learning style, and academic level. I utilize various appropriate activities, and always ensure the student feels connected to why he or she would like to succeed and keep us focused on that.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I believe there is a way to teach anything to anyone. I break the concept down further and utilize a different approach that better matches the student's learning style.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I always assess a student's knowledge. In my classroom, I often used an "exit slip" that the students would complete independently to help me assess whether they fully grasped the concept taught that day. Having a student explain the concept back to me (teach it to me) is also a useful way to measure comprehension.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I make sure students experience small successes every step of the way in my sessions with them to help build confidence.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I typically have a student show me the work he or she is doing and walk me through how to complete it so I can see where the breakdown is occurring.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I utilize various activities and approaches (such as manipulative in math, games, or scaffolded instruction) to meet each student where he or she is.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I have most commonly used notes, practice materials (from workbooks or online), assessments that I create myself, games, and manipulatives. As a teacher, I used PowerPoint presentations to break down concepts into simpler pieces.