Educator with two B.A.s (Psychology and Education) offering Language Arts tutoring for junior high and high school students in Alberta

Methodology

Lessons will be delivered via webcam as well as through custom Screencastify videos. I design individualized content based on a student's areas of interest as it relates to the program of studies from Alberta Education. I utilize a variety of different types of content and activities to engage students. I employ multiple modes of communication and presentation in order to deliver content; specifically, video, audio, print, and slide presentations in addition to research-based learning. I promote critical inquiry and hands-on project-based learning (PBL). I believe education should teach students how to think rather than what to think. A cornerstone of my educational philosophy is building positive and secure relationships with students in order to promote an effective learning environment.
What to expect: I believe selecting a tutor is an important choice that requires consideration on the part of student (and parents). I offer a free hour-long consultation as the first lesson in order to establish rapport and conduct a formative assessment to gauge students strengths in relation to the curriculum. I will collect relevant information regarding students' progress in the curriculum at their current school and design a flexible short-term lesson plan (subject to modification based on students progress and needs) and present a general outline of the lesson plans. At this stage I will examine the content that the student is currently working on in school. I will discuss students' individual needs and goals with both the student and parents in order to come to an agreement as to the desired outcome(s) of our student-teacher relationship in order to tailor lesson plans and differentiate based on individual students' requirements. Assessments are perpetual as well as both formative and summative. Feedback is issued in real-time during lessons as well as by e-mail afterwards following each lesson in order to demonstrate areas of strength and areas for growth for each student.

Lesson structure: Lessons length can be negotiated as desired. I will provide students' learning objectives for each lesson as well as my own instructional objectives for clarity. Lessons begin with a brief warm-up activity in order to review previous material. Following warm-ups the lessons will either progress into content delivery as appropriate or a continuation of the previous lesson's activity. Inquiry-based learning is central to my pedagogy; I believe students' require the skills to "learn how to learn" outside of textbooks and I encourage critical thinking as a lifeskill that assists students in becoming educated, productive citizens. Lessons will conclude with an exit activity to assess the student's progress in relation to the material followed by feedback via e-mail summarizing the lesson, objectives, suggested areas of growth, as well as a preview of the next lesson. Lessons are individualized and will be modified as required based on the progress from the previous lesson. I maintain transparency and encourage both communication and collaboration between myself, the student, and parents in order to maintain a clear focus with respect to learning outcomes and desired goals.