When I use the Reciprocal Teaching technique with my 4th graders, I guide them through four key steps: Predicting, Questioning, Clarifying, and Summarizing. Predicting: Before we start reading, I ask... my students to look at the title, headings, and any pictures. Together, we make predictions about what the text might cover. I encourage them to share what they think might happen or what the main idea could be. This helps set a purpose for reading and gets them curious about what’s next. Questioning: As we read, I stop periodically and ask them to come up with questions about the text. They might ask why a character acts a certain way or what a tricky word means. I let them share questions with a partner, which gets them thinking deeper and helps make connections. Clarifying: After reading a section, I check in to see if anyone found anything confusing, like unfamiliar words or complex ideas. We discuss these together, and sometimes, I break down tricky words or concepts. This step really helps them build vocabulary and clear up any misunderstandings along the way. Summarizing: Finally, after we finish reading, I ask them to summarize the main points or events. We talk about what happened and why it was important. This helps reinforce their understanding and encourages them to focus on the big ideas. Using this technique regularly helps my students become more active, engaged readers and builds their confidence in understanding different texts.read more

I reside in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and I am happily married with two sets of twins and and two singletons. My passions include shopping, traveling, cooking, and most importantly, spending quality time w... ith my family and friends. I hold a Master of Education in Technology from the University of West Alabama. My true passion lies in teaching and creating a safe, supportive space where individuals can open up and thrive. I firmly believe in the transformative power of education and enjoy tutoring because it allows me to make a meaningful impact and help students advance in life. My teaching philosophy is simple: I am committed to working with each student, continuously reaching and encouraging them until their goals are met. I am a unique, passionate, and caring educator who values honesty, direct communication, and understanding. I approach both learning and teaching with an open mind, and I am always eager to learn new things—because, as I believe, the best teachers are those who are never afraid to learn.read more