FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I attend regular professional development sessions as a teacher so I am constantly updated with the latest best practices in education and adolescent psychology. I read academic articles and books on how to improve myself as a classroom teacher and private tutor. I also meet regularly with other education professionals to swap ideas and strategies on how best to facilitate student achievement.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
I have been working as a classroom and private tutor for more than three years now. I got into teaching originally because I loved passing along new information and skills to other people, and helping them grasp new concepts. My first "students" were actually my friends in college, who would often ask for my help with software programs we were expected to learn or essays we were expected to complete. I enjoyed those experiences so thoroughly I decided I wanted to make it my full-time job. I applied to the distinguished Teach For America program, entered the classroom, earned my master's degree in teaching and never looked back.
- What types of customers have you worked with?
The students I work with generally fall into one of three categories: middle and high school students looking for extra help in their classes, high school students looking for test prep help before the ACT, and adult immigrants looking to improve their English skills. For middle and high school students who need help with their classes, I generally meet with them once or twice a week to work on material they have already been given by their school teachers. I work as an extra resource to give these students the help on their classwork they can not get anywhere else. I also work with high school students who are preparing for for a standardized test, usually the ACT. I give a diagnostic test first so we know where a student is starting out, create goals and a timeline based on this date, and get to work on the areas that need the most improvement. We start off with weekly sessions, which become biweekly sessions closer to the date of the test, depending on the students' needs. I also work with adults who have emigrated to the United States and want to improve their English reading, writing and speaking skills. Sometimes their skills are better in one area than another, and I focus on the particular set of skills that student needs help with.