Kristen
Certified Tutor
I initially started tutoring by assisting children with disabilities at my high school. After realizing the joy of helping others pursue the "path of knowledge," I tackled on teaching peers and focusing on difficult subjects. The more I taught, the more I was able to comprehend the material than Everyone else in the class. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone!
Later on in life, My positive aura for teaching allowed other students to open up and ask for study sessions, which I would joyfully oblige! I soon found that teaching is one of my profound passions in life. It's a wonderful feeling to have "Light Bulb Moment," when a concept finally "clicks" and makes sense. One of my clients calls it, "The Last Puzzle Piece Effect:" the triumph of unlocking untapped knowledge and potential, after "mentally" puzzling over complex and disorganized concepts.
I, personally, identify with it well, having felt it commonly myself. It's exceptionally satisfying to have the capacity to help other people fulfill their pursuits, especially when they finally get "last puzzle piece" to fall into place. You can appreciate the bigger picture in the grand scheme of things, especially after conquering each detail "one puzzle at a time."
As I got further into more advanced courses along with critical coursework, I started to acknowledge the amount of information I could learn, and how vital it was for me to create original, more effective methods towards introducing & teaching new material.
I began tutoring at the college grade level, which ultimately changed my teaching styles for the better. This new path started with questioning and analyzing today's academic system: "What adequately helps students to learn?", "How can I significantly impact each session in such a short amount of time?" And most importantly, "Why are some students not motivated to do well in school?"
Since then I have come to trust that tutoring is not just about giving help to finding solutions or completing assignments. Those are unquestionably top priority. The key to teaching and tutoring is understanding that every student has the potential for profound and exceptional results. With the right guidance, students will have the proper mindset to resolve any academic obstacles through origination, trial & error, evaluation, audit, research, practice, and persistence. In addition coaching, particularly with (however not restricted to) more youthful students is mainly about tutoring and giving them not only the answers but rather the capacity and the motivation to find the solutions all by themselves! While this may not be the initial first plan of action, it is essential for the student to reach this goal, before a student takes on difficult courses & responsibilities, in addition to facing the uncertainty of tomorrow's future.
There will be situations where the requirement for assisting students solve a problem is much more than a typical answer of giving yes, no and small simple answers. Sometimes, the understanding of the question itself can allow an easier way for students to find the answer. Which I have witnessed the effectiveness of this method, time and time again.
Be that as it may, here is a bigger requirement for further advancement and production of learning to succeed in the game of life. And from my experiences, the best effective teaching style comes down to examining if the student understands the concept versus just assisting them to find the actual solution.
The future generation is destined for greatness and success towards a better tomorrow. Perhaps all it takes is simply showing them how to finish the rest of the puzzle.
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Undergraduate Degree:University of Arkansas- Current Undergrad, Computer Science
- ACT English: 32
Reading. Writing Poetry. Playing the Piano. Cooking New Recipes. Traveling to New Places. Xbox One Connesieur.
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What is your teaching philosophy?
Studies have shown that the majority of students with philosophy in their academic curriculum do better in school than other students. Research found that a student's motivation was linked to better academic performance. Why is that? The answer is simple: Today's school system continuously fails to create a cultivating and sustainable environment -- one that truly prepares students for success and efficiently focuses on reaching their full potential. My teaching philosophy is focused on teaching techniques catered to the student's strongest sensory for learning new material (visual, audio, artistic, etc.), while analyzing and strengthening their academic weaknesses and perceptions of learning. In other words, unlocking their potential by building upon their best qualities.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would begin by analyzing the student's overall understanding of the subject. I would also ask about which areas are easy versus areas that the student has trouble in. By doing this, it would help me create the most effective teaching methods for this student (i.e., visual or auditory learner). Then, I would gather any important dates for upcoming tests and projects related to that subject. Finally, I will suggest material for future sessions and assign practice problems, which will be due for the next session.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I will try to strengthen the importance of learning the subject by creatively adding different material and projects relating to the concept. For example, a student that struggles in geometry might feel unmotivated to learn independently, because they might feel that "it's useless to learn" and "that it won't help once they graduate high school/college." At that point, I will incorporate something fun, like geometry billiards. Or maybe a clip showing how professional bowlers use geometry to win competitions! The key is to establish the importance of the subject outside of the classroom. Once a child sees the infinite possibilities that present itself after studying certain subjects, they will be more open and motivated to learn more.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I will continuously keep a variety of materials, fun projects, or games relating to the subject. It is extremely important to establish a positive and joyful environment because this will allows a student's motivation to flourish!
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would focus on finding the root of the issue causing the student trouble, try several different methods on finding and understanding the solution, and instill positivity into the student's feelings of the subject overall. Self-doubt and negative emotions can hinder logical judgment when it comes to problem-solving.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Foremost, establishing the basic foundations of reading comprehension: understanding the setting, plot, purpose, protagonist, etc. I will also incorporate the 4 W's and H: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? In addition, I will incorporate tips and tricks to understand context clues. I also have an OCR program that takes and converts a book into a DAISY file. DAISY formats allow users to hear the words being spoken aloud while highlighting each part of the text as it is being said.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I have found establishing a positive atmosphere for the student to be comfortable and motivated to learn is important. I also try to incorporate their hobbies and likes into our tutoring session. If a student likes Minecraft, and they are learning about programming, I would combine both of them and assist them with programming the Minecraft movements or characters.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I will explore their hobbies and try to relate them to the tutoring sessions. Creating a positive linkage towards the subject will help the students be excited about a subject they are learning.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
In combination with provided materials and my own personal materials, I will develop a 10-15 question quiz that will analyze their overall understanding. I will also ask about previous coursework or tutoring sessions to learn about their overall knowledge of the concept. Sometimes I will also reverse roles and ask the student to teach me the concept as if it was my first time learning. If the student struggles with telling me about the material, then it will show whether or not they fully understand.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Reinforcement is key to building a student's confidence. Letting them know that they have the power to do well on that particular subject. Congratulating them every time they found the correct answer. It is extremely important to be supportive rather than to criticize. Students struggling in a subject are more vulnerable in regards to the material. Being positive and uplifting will help secure confidence in students.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
When I first meet the student, I ask them what they hope to obtain from the sessions: Do you need to do well in a class? Do you need a high score on the ACT or SAT to obtain scholarships at one of your selected colleges? Do you want to strengthen your skill, whether it is reading, writing, drawing, etc.? Do you have any major test coming up? I will then assess the student's strengths and weaknesses and combine all the results for evaluation.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I adapt by focusing solely on what the student lacks in regards to understanding the material. I will also take note of things that need improvement, and try to find more resources to assist the student.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Aside from the provided material, I use my own material that I have gathered over the years. In addition, I can recommend books or other published material that will assist the student in succeeding. I also like to incorporate fun games and projects that relate to learning the concept better.