Ainsley
Certified Tutor
I am currently a third grade teacher in Baltimore City and have been teaching Elementary for the last four years. I am certified in Elementary Education and I also have a Master's in Education. I specialize in Common Core and PARCC preparation as well as differentiation of instruction for students. I also am very familiar with teaching Elementary Math, Reading, Phonics, Reading Comprehension, and test preparation. I love to challenge a student's learning style while also catering to their personal needs. Teaching is my passion and full time career and I love changing the lives of children.
I am a very competitive individual who always seeks to find answers if I do not know them myself. In my spare time I really enjoy working out, playing lacrosse, hanging out with friends, shopping, and enjoying the lovely city of Baltimore!
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Virginia-Main Campus - Bachelors, Sociology
Graduate Degree: University of Virginia-Main Campus - Masters, Education
I am an extremely active individual and very involved in sports and extra curricular activities. I was a Divison 1 college athlete at Virginia where I played lacrosse for 5 years. I understand the importance of time management when being a successful student. I also am really involved in group fitness classes at my gym. I love spending time at the beach, spending time outside, and playing in adult sports leagues during the week with my friends. I also love shopping, cooking, baking, and exercising.
- 3rd Grade
- 3rd Grade Math
- 3rd Grade Reading
- 3rd Grade Science
- 3rd Grade Writing
- College English
- Elementary Math
- Elementary School
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Science
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- High School English
- Homework Support
- Math
- Other
- PARCC Prep
- Phonics
- Reading
- Science
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Summer
- Test Prep
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that catering learning to each learner is important. No individual learns the same way!
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In a first session I would get to know the student, learn what motivates them, what frustrates them, and how they celebrate success!
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I can help a student become an independent learner by always adding in work that they know in their lesson. It is important for a learner to feel success when they are struggling with a particular subject matter.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I would help a student stay motivated by learning their interests and what they like to do. I also would develop a progress tracker so that we can celebrate each and every milestone, no matter how small it is!
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, I would first work backwards and see what prerequisite skills the student is lacking. Then we would work on mastering those skills before moving on to the one in question.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
In order to help students who are struggling with reading comprehension I like to use story maps, graphic organizers, chunking, highlighters, five finger retell, and tools to help find evidence in the text to support their answers.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I have found that getting to know a student is the most important. Get to know the actual student as a person, not just what their strengths and weaknesses are. If there is a mutual trust and respect built, the student is more likely to be comfortable struggling through a concept and persevering with you at their side.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would get a student engaged with a subject they are struggling in by using their interests. For example, if a student was struggling with reading comprehension but loved motorcycles, I would find some books that we could use to master reading while catering to their likes!
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I would use frequent checks for understanding. Modeling a problem for a student, working on a few problems with the student, and then releasing the student into independent practice.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Building confidence in a subject requires the student to feel success. If they struggle in a subject, you have to start with what they know and praise them for that. After they have felt success, they are more likely to strive towards it again and again.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I evaluate a student's needs based on a number of different factors. What the parents or guardians say is extremely important. However, I believe it is important for the student to know what he or she needs as well. Being able to openly discuss their needs can better help you cater to them as a tutor!
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Depending on the needs of my students, I can adapt my tutoring in a number of ways. Through the use of technology, manipulatives, and other forms of differentiated instruction there are many ways to meet the educational goals of a student.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
During a session I typically would use many different items. Pencils, paper, highlighters, sorts, manipulatives, iPad, and lots and lots of books!