Billy
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Cornell University - Bachelor of Science, Human Biology, Health, and Society
SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1550
SAT Math: 800
SAT Verbal: 770
SAT Writing: 710
Drawing, photography, music, walking/running.
College Biology
College Chemistry
College Physics
High School Biology
High School Chemistry
High School Physics
Honors Chemistry
Life Sciences
What is your teaching philosophy?
Understanding a student's needs is the most important part of teaching. Through effective communication, I like to address my student's specific needs to most effectively tackle a problem and maximize a student's learning.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I'd like to get to know the student better! I think it's important to build rapport with a student right off the bat. We can spend a few minutes talking about how things are going in school, and slowly work our way into the material we'll be working on for the rest of our sessions.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I always ask my students what they think the answer is before I give them a clue. I'll ask them to tell me their thought process, and then I'll ask them to reflect on that thought process. I may critique some points they make while encouraging others. It's all a very dynamic process.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Sometimes, all a student needs is a short break. The brain isn't just a machine that you can set to work for a predetermined amount of time! By taking these short breaks, the student can keep their mind clear and their eyes on the prize.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I'll look for a different approach to tackle the problem. Maybe I'll draw an analogy to something they see in their day-to-day lives. Abstract concepts often become much more tangible when they're related to familiar things.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
If you think about it, a long passage is really just a combination of little chunks of information that makes up one large piece of information. Often, students are intimidated by these long and often boring passages. By focusing on each sentence, bit by bit, we can work to piece together a picture of what the passage is trying to tell us.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I've always found it helpful to encourage a student to keep on going! Every little question they get right is a motivator, as well as a step in the direction we all want to be headed. Let them know that these little victories will amount to something much greater!