Kaitlan
Certified Tutor
Teaching with the Peace Corps in Zambia, Africa for two and a half years really showed me how much I love working with children and foreign students. Due to my experience teaching abroad, I already know how to adapt lessons and materials to different learning levels, and I know how to think outside the box to help students learn and problem-solve. I will be TEFL certified by the end of February, and have most recently spent time tutoring college students in grammar and essay writing. I'm patient and easy-going and like to make my learning environments relaxing and fun--school is stressful enough as it is, and you don't need to feel that way when you are with me! I'm here to help, and go the extra mile for my students by providing extra information and help outside of class. To help inspire students who may find English boring, I love incorporating technology in the classroom!
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Undergraduate Degree: Northeastern State University - Bachelors, English
Cooking, baking, reading, writing, games, hiking, movies
- College English
- College Essays
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- ESL/ELL
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- Other
- Reading
- Summer
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
A good classroom has three things: questioning minds, smiling faces, and a teacher who cares.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I will sit and talk with you like a friend; I'll ask you questions about your hobbies and what subjects you love in school. Then, after you have relaxed a bit, we'll talk about the subjects you're struggling in, and what I can do to help you!
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I love sending helpful links and information for students to build a digital library of their own--these materials help students have ownership of their own store of information.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I talk with them on a personal level. Everyone has moments where they struggle to stay motivated. A teacher is also a counselor, and I would help them work through it!
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I take my time and am patient with students. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, myself included! We would just keep working to find a creative solution to help them learn!
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
The best approach to reading comprehension is through a variety of small steps. We break it down and talk about each block of text, and make it easier to read and understand!
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I love incorporating visual aids and interactive videos. We live in such a technological world, that sometimes in order to get students excited about an otherwise boring subject, we have to incorporate videos and technology to help them see how interesting the subject is.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I ask a lot of questions throughout a tutoring session. I want to make sure I'm doing a good job and teaching in a way that the student understands. If I find I'm failing in that respect, I backtrack a bit and try again.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I am very encouraging, and make it a point to show students the areas in which they excel.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I ask questions, check their writing assignments, and have them give summaries about some reading material.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Every person, and likewise every student, has different learning methods and needs. I would adapt my tutoring methods to suit them after I have met with them for the first time.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Depending on the student, I'll bring either my own books, printouts or educational materials from the internet.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I think being open, understanding and approachable is very important when you are building rapport with a new student. They need to know they have the freedom to make mistakes and ask questions.