Alysia
Certified Tutor
I believe that education is fundamental and all children deserve access to a curriculum and mode of learning that caters to their own individual needs and cultivates life-long learners. I believe that everyone has the ability and the capacity to learn, however, we are all created differently, and regardless of prior failures, learning disabilities, or feelings of self-doubt, I strive to help students figure out what learning style best works for them, so that I can teach them learning tools that will help them throughout the rest of their educational career and life. I strongly believe that my background and experiences have helped mold me into a well-rounded educator that enjoys instructing and guiding others to achieve success, as well as acting as a mentor, confidant, and friend to my students. Education has always been an extremely important aspect of who I am. My mother is a 2nd-grade teacher and my father is a middle school vice principal and that combination of discipline, leadership, and nurturing as a part of the educational experience has been instilled in me from a very young age. As a child, I had to overcome my own personal challenges in order to allow my intellect to shine. I have ADHD and in the elementary grades was labeled a class clown, however, I learned to conquer my learning disability and proceeded to excel. For high school, I attended Wyoming Seminary Upper School, a private boarding school in North East, PA, and my experience and education I received there helped mold me into a conscious global citizen set on making an impact in this world. I am currently an Intervention Specialist, Writer, and Personal Tutor that thoroughly loves helping children, adolescents, and college students master subjects that are challenging to them. As an Intervention Specialist I work in a K-5 school where I work with small groups of students that need additional support in English/Language Arts and Math. Additionally, I especially have a love for literature and reading and have aspirations to become a children's/ young adult author. I am also a published poet and plan on pursuing further publications in the future. The feeling I get when I am able to help build someone's confidence and skills is indescribable. As a previous Substitute Teacher, I have gained experience with students in all grade levels and abilities ranging from Pre-K to 12th grade, as well as students with special needs including Autism, ADD/ADHD, vision impairment, and multiple disabilities. I am dedicated to all of my students and approach their education with the same ferocity regardless of ability or skills. Also, I promise that I will always do my best to make things fun and exciting. If you're not laughing you're not learning! In my free time, I enjoy staying physically fit and appreciating all forms of art. I am dedicated to fitness and enjoy lifting weights, running, yoga, hiking, and participating in recreational team sports such as softball and volleyball. I believe that sports and physical activity are necessary for children to build leadership skills and learn how to cooperate with others and have helped coach an intramural children's baseball team for low-income students. I also have a love for music and visual art and frequently attend concerts, art exhibits, and poetry readings. I have a passion for life and enjoy sharing that passion with my students and others, helping them to realize and cherish their own desires and interests.
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Undergraduate Degree: Thomas Edison State University - Bachelors, English
- SAT Writing: 700
Exercising: lifting weights, running, yoga, hiking; watching and playing sports, reading, traveling, thrift shopping, fashion, attending museums and outdoor festivals, music, movies, animation
- 10th Grade Reading
- 10th Grade Writing
- 11th Grade Reading
- 11th Grade Writing
- 12th Grade Reading
- 12th Grade Writing
- 1st Grade
- 1st Grade Math
- 1st Grade Reading
- 1st Grade Writing
- 2nd Grade
- 2nd Grade Math
- 2nd Grade Reading
- 2nd Grade Writing
- 3rd Grade
- 3rd Grade Math
- 3rd Grade Reading
- 3rd Grade Science
- 3rd Grade Writing
- 4th Grade
- 4th Grade Math
- 4th Grade Reading
- 4th Grade Science
- 4th Grade Writing
- 5th Grade
- 5th Grade Math
- 5th Grade Reading
- 5th Grade Science
- 5th Grade Writing
- 6th Grade
- 6th Grade Math
- 6th Grade Reading
- 6th Grade Science
- 6th Grade Writing
- 7th Grade
- 7th Grade Math
- 7th Grade Reading
- 7th Grade Science
- 7th Grade Writing
- 8th Grade
- 8th Grade Math
- 8th Grade Reading
- 8th Grade Science
- 8th Grade Writing
- 9th Grade
- 9th Grade Math
- 9th Grade Reading
- 9th Grade Writing
- Adult Literacy
- Algebra
- American Literature
- College Application Essays
- College English
- College Level American Literature
- Comparative Literature
- Elementary Algebra
- Elementary School
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Science
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- Essay Editing
- Expository Writing
- Geometry
- High School
- High School English
- High School Level American Literature
- High School Writing
- Homeschool
- Homework Support
- HSPT Prep
- HSPT Language Skills
- HSPT Math
- HSPT Quantitative
- HSPT Reading
- HSPT Verbal
- Introduction to Fiction
- ISEE Prep
- ISEE- Lower Level
- ISEE- Middle Level
- Literature
- Math
- Middle School
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Science
- Middle School Writing
- Other
- Phonics
- Reading
- Science
- SSAT Prep
- SSAT- Elementary Level
- SSAT- Middle Level
- Summer
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that every child has the ability and capacity to learn; it just takes a dedicated educator to adjust the lesson to suit their needs, level, and style of learning. Education is not one size fits all.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would first have them show me what subject/area they are struggling with; then I would have them tell me about themselves including their hobbies, their interests, and their strengths. I would then ask how their teacher covered the subject in school. This way I know what the student needs help in, perhaps what type of learner they are, and then evaluate what has already been tried so I can come up with a new way of teaching them the information.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I help students become independent learners by teaching them skills that they can use in order to build their confidence. For example, I instill the importance of close reading and comprehension in my students. I also teach students different tricks based on their learning style. For instance, I am a visual, hands-on learner. Therefore, in order for me to grasp certain information I have to draw pictures or graphic organizers. Another effective way to help a student become an independent learner is to have them think out loud and teach me the information back once they feel comfortable; that way we both are confident that they have mastered the topic, and they will still be confident with their thought processes when I am not there.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I would help a student stay motivated by giving them certain incentives. For example, I might tell them that if they work hard for 15 minutes we can then take a 5-minute break to stretch our legs, play a game, or check social media. Also, I set up one major goal to strive towards based on their performance. For instance, if a student shows improvement, they could possibly earn a gift card towards something that appeals to them.
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 try and find an alternate way of teaching them the information, or I try relating it to something they are already familiar or interested in.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
If a student is struggling with reading comprehension I try and make sure they are close reading, including taking notes, underlining key characters and highlighting important passages, as well as reading through pieces of writing with them and having them make predictions and inferences as to what will happen next, and how a character might feel during a particular scene.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
When I first start working with a student I give them a little assessment to gauge their skills and weaknesses, and then I find out a little more about them, including their hobbies and likes, so I can find a way to make their trouble subjects interesting and exciting to them. This includes using different visual elements and hands-on techniques that make learning fun and bring something which may seem abstract to them to life.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would try and find something that they are interested in that goes along with the subject. For example, if a student is struggling in math, but like sports, I try and show them how math is used to track player statistics and maybe even have us open a fantasy league in order to bring math to life and make it exciting for them.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
In order to make sure a student understands the material, I would have them teach it back to me or explain how or why they got the answer they did, in order to ensure that when I'm not there they will still be confident in their abilities and sure of themselves.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
In order to build a student's confidence, I always use positive feedback, whether they have gained mastery of the subject or not. I try and make my students feel like they can do it; they just need more practice.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I evaluate a student's needs by having them complete a short assessment before we begin our sessions, and then reviewing their previous tests and classwork to see where they are struggling.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I try and see what works best for each student. If a student is a visual learner, I will use resources such as videos and graphs; if a student is a hands-on learner, I incorporate more problems, flashcards, and other activities that have them working out the problems on their own; and if a student is an auditory learner, I might introduce some brief lectures or have them read out loud with me so I know they are taking in the information.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Depending on the student I use a combination of assessments, worksheets, videos, flashcards, and books.