Wood Tutoring

When meeting with a new student, the first thing I like to do is get to know them on a personal level. What are their interests? What do they like to do for fun? Who is their family? I like to develop a trusting relationship with the student so they feel comfortable around me. If a student feels comfortable, they are much more likely to learn and retain new information. I then assess where they are in their needs, what are their strengths and weaknesses? What do they feel they struggle with the most? Lastly, we make a plan to get them where they need to be/want to be. 

I have a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and an Elementary Teaching Credential. I completed my student teaching in January - June 2020, where I taught 2nd grade in person for 3 months, and assisted the 4th grade teacher in virtual learning for 3 months. I have been tutoring on and off for about 10 years. I've tutored Kindergarten, 2nd - 3rd grade, and help out friends with basic college level math. Currently, I am a tutor for a child who is doing independent study through his school district. I am provided with the lesson worksheet for the week and then I plan out each day what lessons and what work is to be done. I also supplement his schoolwork with P.E., art, and challenging activities as needed.

The standard pricing is $30 - $45 per hour, depending on the grade, material, and the extent to which tutoring is desired. I also offer grading services to homeschool families if needed. The rate for grading (typically writing assignments) is $20 to grade a 1 -3 page paper plus $20 for 1 half hour of feedback. There is an extra $2.50 for each page after limit is reached. 

I've worked with pre-kindergarten students all the way through college graduated students. I've worked with students in low-income areas, Title I schools, and students from middle-class families. I've worked with students with disabilities such as ADD, students who are 3 - 4 grades behind, and foster children. 

While completing my student teaching in 2020, I tutored a 1st grade student who was also a foster child. She was temporarily placed in a home while awaiting a decision on when she could be back with her parents. Due to COVID, we did our tutoring sessions online 2x/week for 2 hours. The student was struggling with reading and wasn't grasping the ideas of long-e and short-e sounds. I did an activity where I held up a word card like "mad" and then a word card with the letter "e" and had her repeat this many times. We practiced this many times and one time when she was reading a passage, she didn't struggle to read the difference between the long-e and short-e sounds. After she read, I told her she read it perfectly with no errors and her face lit up. It was something I was proud of because she was proud of herself.

My advice would be to look at their credentials, degrees, experience, and history. Reach out to any tutor you are interested in, and see if they are a fit. If they aren't a fit, move onto the next one. Don't be discouraged if you work with a tutor and they are unable to help you. That might mean that you as a student don't learn the way that tutor teaches. Try out different people and see who you work best with. Finding a tutor is remarkably similar to finding a therapist, you have to click with that person. You have to find commonalities with them, and you have to be able to build a relationship with them. Also, DON'T BE EMBARRASSED about your struggles. Don't be ashamed, we ALL have our weaknesses and things we have to work extra hard at. 

Questions students should think about are: 

What am I struggling with? What am I looking to accomplish at the end of tutoring? How much does the tutor charge? What is their experience? What expertise do they have? What kind of credentials do they have?