Steven
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Fullerton College - Associate in Arts, Business
ACT Math: 33
Movies, Sports (Football, Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball)
10th Grade Math
10th Grade Reading
10th Grade Writing
11th Grade Math
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Writing
12th Grade Math
1st Grade Reading
1st Grade Writing
2nd Grade Reading
2nd Grade Writing
3rd Grade Reading
3rd Grade Science
3rd Grade Writing
4th Grade Reading
4th Grade Science
4th Grade Writing
5th Grade Reading
5th Grade Science
5th Grade Writing
6th Grade Math
6th Grade Reading
6th Grade Science
6th Grade Writing
7th Grade Math
7th Grade Reading
7th Grade Science
7th Grade Writing
8th Grade Math
8th Grade Reading
8th Grade Science
8th Grade Writing
9th Grade Math
9th Grade Reading
9th Grade Writing
ACT Aspire
Adult Literacy
AP Economics
Art
ASPIRE Math
Business
CAHSEE Mathematics
CLEP Prep
CLEP History of the United States I
CLEP History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present
CLEP Precalculus
College Economics
College English
Elementary School Math
Elementary School Reading
Elementary School Science
Elementary School Writing
Handwriting
High School Business
High School Chemistry
High School Economics
High School English
High School Writing
Homeschool
Honors
IB World Religions
Macroeconomics
Middle School Reading
Middle School Science
Middle School Writing
Other
Political Science
SAT Subject Test in United States History
SAT Subject Tests Prep
Social Sciences
US Constitutional History
US History
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is to adapt to each student and utilize different methods in order to benefit that particular student. I believe that listening to the needs of the student is crucial and understanding their strengths and weaknesses in a subject will allow me to develop a particular strategy to best suit them.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would first listen to the parents or guardian to understand the situation and what they would like to see out of the tutoring sessions. I would then like to speak with the student to see how confident they are in the subject. Also, I would ask what they have difficulty understanding and any other concerns. Next, I may test their knowledge of the subject with a practice test in order to see how they derive an answer and what we need to work on. Lastly, I would teach using several different methods or problem solving techniques in order to understand how they learn best.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I could help a student become an independent learner through positive reinforcement and by introducing different learning tools and strategies. I believe that tutoring a student requires both patience and motivation. Instilling confidence in the student and providing them with helpful tools on the web or in texts gives them more success.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
There are several techniques I use to help a student who may be struggling with reading comprehension. First, I like to assess the student's ability to comprehend what they are reading by asking questions that relate to the text and/or asking them to summarize what they have just read. From my assessment, I will be able to determine what practices and techniques to use in order to help the student understand the material easier. I am also able to figure out how much time will be needed for the student to grasp the comprehension skills that I am going to teach them. The first thing that I like to suggest to help the student comprehend more efficiently is using a highlighter. I usually show them what they need to look for within the text so that they can highlight the correct material. Usually, the first sentence of a paragraph is very important as it usually focuses on a specific idea and then has the next few sentences elaborate on the initial sentence. The second technique that I like to teach a student is to read any follow up questions first. Usually, a student reads the text and forgets what he or she just read. Therefore, I like to suggest to each student to read the homework or test questions first so that they know what to look for within the text and can highlight the answer when they see it. A third technique that helps students with comprehension is to re-read the text after they read both the text and any follow-up questions. A fourth way I like build a student's comprehension is by suggesting to the student to read more when they have free time. The more they can read, the better they will become at comprehending any material. Often students struggle with reading or don't like it because they like to watch tv, play sports outside, or play video games. I usually like to help these students read by finding a subject matter that they seem to enjoy and having them read that.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I believe that I can build a student's confidence by implementing different creative strategies that are targeted toward the student's specific needs. A uniformed strategy that paints a broad brush on all students will not suffice because each individual has different strengths and weaknesses. First, I like to offer encouragement and give praise when success is accomplished. Then, if corrections are needed, I will politely point them out. From the student's own improvement, he or she will build more confidence and feel much better the more they practice. Second, I will not stop and correct the student with each wrong mistake. For example, if I have just taught the student how to solve an equation but their attempt at solving the new problem is filled with miscalculations, I will let the student finish despite them having an incorrect answer. Then after they're done I will not say if it is right or wrong. I will say let's check your work and see if you're right. Therefore, my intention is to reinforce an important aspect of learning which is to check your work. The other goal is to build the student's confidence because they will be able to catch their own mistakes. A few other techniques that I implore include: setting attainable goals and creating opportunities for the student to succeed such as teaching them shortcuts, or methods to solve problems that their teacher may not use. Lastly, staying positive and offering encouragement will help the student from maybe giving up on a given assignment, paper, or test. When struggles occur and the student seems to be giving up, I find that taking a break is very much needed. There will be times when a student is not understanding the concept and disappointment is what they're feeling. I often find that stopping and taking a break helps calm the anxiety. I then try to lighten the mood with a subject matter that the student may like, such as sports or a movie that is currently playing to distract the students mental frustration. After a few minutes, I'll ask them to give it one more shot. I'll tell them, "Hey, let's do these next few problems together," in which I'll have them try to solve the equation, but then assist them when the next step is unknown to the student. After we both work to solve the homework or practice problems together, I'll create my own problem that will be similar in structure, but just different enough so that the student is solving something new. Usually, this method works as the student can apply the steps used to solve the previous problem toward the new problem I created to find the answer. I see this change from a frustrated and disappointed student who is struggling into a person who achieves success as the greatest confidence boost that student can find. Almost all the students that I have tutored seem to learn best with this teaching strategy. From my own experience standpoint, I have worked with all kinds of students who range from brilliant to those who struggle in all subjects. While those who have a hard time may seem to be the only ones with low confidence, this is simply not true. Some of the students I have tutored who have been advanced learners still have low confidence in certain areas just like all human beings. My conclusion/summation is that each student needs a specific teaching strategy that will build their confidence based on a way that incorporates their strengths with my ability to keep things positive and working towards an achievable goal.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I evaluate a student's needs by first listening from the parents. Usually, they have a well understanding of their child's strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, if the parent thinks their child is having many problems in a given subject, then I will further assess the student's skill level through my own drawn up test. This initial assessment will let me see what we'll need to really work on and what lessons are not as important to cover. After asking the parent what the student's needs are, I will then ask the student I'm tutoring what he or she thinks they need and what goals they'd like to set for themselves.