Tutoring style or method

Question

What is your tutoring style, and what methods do you use to help students? What is a challenge you commonly see students face, and how do you help them overcome it? What would you change about the current school (public or private) teaching curriculum?

Answer 1

My tutoring style is structured, supportive, and highly individualized. I believe students learn best when instruction meets them at their current skill level and provides explicit, systematic steps toward mastery. In reading, I use evidence-based practices grounded in the Science of Reading and structured literacy, including Orton-Gillingham principles. My lessons may include phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding and encoding, spelling, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. I also use multisensory activities and frequent review while adjusting instruction based on how the student responds.

One challenge I commonly see is a student who has experienced repeated difficulty and begins to believe that he or she simply cannot learn. Other students may understand a skill but struggle to apply it automatically and independently. I address these challenges by identifying the underlying skill gap, breaking learning into manageable steps, providing repeated successful practice, and monitoring progress closely. I want students to understand not only the correct answer but also the process that helps them reach it. Building confidence is important, but confidence develops best when students can see evidence of their own progress.

If I could change one aspect of the current school curriculum, I would place greater emphasis on mastery rather than simply moving through grade-level standards according to a pacing calendar. Students do not all learn at the same rate, and moving forward before foundational skills are secure can allow small gaps to become significant academic difficulties. In reading, I would ensure that every student receives explicit, systematic instruction based on the Science of Reading, with early screening and intervention when difficulties appear. I would also give teachers greater flexibility to slow down, reteach, and provide targeted instruction when student data shows that it is needed. The goal should not simply be to cover the curriculum; it should be to ensure that students actually learn it.

Answer 2

My Method

1. Get permission to shadow their classroom or class (for local or online students). See what is happening in the classroom. Does the student need to sit somewhere else? Can the student hear the teacher and see the board clearly, and are there distractions?
2. I will give a short assessment to discover the student's learning style. This will help me know if the student is analytical, visual, or hands-on. This helps me tailor my tutoring to the student's needs. When I'm creating practice worksheets, activities, or quizzes.
3. I will schedule regular sessions with students. Consistency is key!
4. Tracking progress. After an initial assessment of where the student stands with understanding and where they need help. I will continue to track the student's progress and make any adjustments as needed.
5. I will also work and communicate with the students, teachers, and parents. Discussing the student's progress, needed changes to the classroom or curricula, and extra things that can be done at home to better help the student.
6. Make learning fun. (i.e. If the student is struggling in math and loves sports, then I will make math problems relate to sports).

Common Challenges and My Solution.

Most often, the biggest challenges I see with students who struggle are: poor note-taking skills, poor study habits, and a lack of routine or set schedule.

During my assessment, I will see how the student writes their notes and offer guidance on how to take effective and organized notes. This would lead to assisting them with their study habits, and what methods they can try, and find the ones that work best for them. Most importantly, I will teach them about routines and schedules for homework and study times within their days and weeks.

Problems with Curriculum

The biggest problem I see with the modern curriculum is that there is a major disconnect between the student's learning style and the teaching style. All too often, curricula are cookie-cutter and do not cater to a student's individual needs. Of course, it would be nearly impossible to have one teacher teach the same material 30 different ways, but perhaps we need a better ratio of student-to-teacher, or teachers need more adaptive methods of teaching. If the solution is to have smaller class sizes, then there will be a higher demand for more teachers. Currently, there is already an issue with teacher retention, but perhaps more manageable classes will make teachers stay. It's hard to say what will be the fix-all for the problems at hand, but something obviously isn't working.

Answer 3

I believe effective tutoring begins by understanding the individual student rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach. My tutoring style is supportive, engaging, and personalized. I meet students where they are academically and build learning in manageable steps that create both understanding and confidence. I use explicit instruction, guided practice, visual supports, questioning strategies, real-world examples, and repetition with variation to strengthen learning and retention. I also focus on helping students understand how they learn best so they develop greater independence and confidence over time.

One challenge I commonly see is that students often believe they “aren’t good” at a subject when the real issue is that they have not been taught in a way that matches their learning needs. Many students become frustrated, anxious, or shut down after repeated struggles. I help students overcome this by creating a supportive environment, identifying learning barriers, teaching strategies that work for them, and building small successes that gradually strengthen confidence and skills.

If I could change one aspect of many current school curricula, I would place a stronger emphasis on individual learning differences, critical thinking, executive functioning skills, and helping students develop self-awareness as learners. Students are often expected to absorb information at the same pace and in the same way, even though learning is highly individual. I believe education should focus not only on what students learn, but also on helping them discover how they learn best so they can become confident, capable lifelong learners.

Answer 4

📚 What is your tutoring style and method?

My tutoring style is patient, encouraging, and highly personalized. I create a positive and supportive environment where students feel safe to take risks, ask questions, and grow in confidence.

My method is grounded in evidence-based practices, especially those informed by the Science of Reading and Writing and best practices in Mathematics instruction. I start by using assessments to identify each student’s skill level and learning gaps. This data allows me to build customized, targeted learning plans tailored to their unique needs.

I incorporate:

1. 🎯 Explicit instruction in phonics, reading comprehension, and writing or math
2. 🧠 Multisensory learning strategies, ideal for students with dyslexia or learning differences
3. ✍️ Structured writing support to strengthen grammar, vocabulary, and expression
4. 🔢 Hands-on, visual math techniques that promote conceptual understanding
5. 🌍 Support for ESL learners, including vocabulary, grammar, and speaking practice
6. 📘 Homework help combined with skill-building to prevent frustration and promote mastery
7. 🔄 Gradual release of responsibility using the “I do, we do, you do” method to build independence and confidence

Above all, my sessions are engaging, interactive, and goal-focused. I use games, visuals, manipulatives, and real-world connections to make learning fun and meaningful. My goal is to not only help students improve their academic skills but also to help them become confident, motivated learners.

📚 Let’s build confidence by bridging learning gaps today- creating success for tomorrow!.

If you're interested in tutoring for your child—or even for yourself—I’d love to help!

📩 Message Michele W. today by scrolling to the bottom of my profile and clicking the “Message Me” button.

📞 Call/Text: [phone]

Answer 5

Before diving into the subject, I like to start by getting to know the student as a person—what interests them, what motivates them, and how they feel about school and learning in general. I’ve found that this connection makes everything else more effective. Once we build some trust, I’ll introduce a few standard teaching methods to see how they respond—whether they do better with visual examples, verbal explanations, hands-on activities, or real-world connections.

From there, I blend what I’ve learned about their personality with tailored methods—sometimes it’s using games, favorite TV shows, or even things like Roblox to reframe a tricky concept in a way that makes sense to them. I don’t believe there’s one perfect method—I’m always adjusting and learning alongside the student.

I offer two free 30-minute sessions to start: the first one is all about getting to know each other, and the second is where I apply what I’ve learned to support them in a personalized way. I also keep sessions consistent and focused, while making room for encouragement, questions, and building confidence at every step.

One of the biggest challenges I see is students being so afraid of making mistakes that they stop trying altogether. It’s often rooted in past experiences where failure felt too big or success felt too far away.

To help with this, I start just below their current level—somewhere they can feel capable and safe. Then I gradually raise the difficulty in small, manageable steps so that they’re constantly building confidence as they grow. This way, they’re learning without feeling overwhelmed, and failure becomes less of a threat and more of a step in the process. I celebrate small wins and always emphasize effort over perfection.

One of the biggest issues I see in both public and private school settings is the lack of flexibility in how students are taught. Every child has a different learning style, but many schools are structured to teach everyone the same way. I understand teachers have a lot on their plates and work within rigid systems, but I truly believe we can do better by integrating more adaptable teaching approaches—even if that’s through supplemental programs or co-teaching models.

I wish schools could pair students with teachers whose teaching style matches the way they learn best, or even dedicate time in the week for more creative, flexible learning blocks that step outside the curriculum. When learning becomes more personalized and less standardized, we give every student a better chance to thrive.