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Andres

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I am a former teacher for both middle school sciences and High School Biology. As a teacher I was nominated for multiple teaching awards and was a finalist for the TN Charter School TOTY Award. My strength include being able to make science and math material accessible and understandable to students from all academic backgrounds whether low reading level, poor at math, CLUE or AIG, or academically advances students. I am currently completing my Master's Degree in Pharmacology at UTHSC and will be applying to multiple medical schools in the fall.

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Andres’ Qualifications

Education & Certification

Undergraduate Degree: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Bachelors, Biology (B.S.)

Graduate Degree: University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center - Masters, Pharmacology

Hobbies

Playing FIFA, Sports (rugby and soccer), swimming, playing League, reading books, swimming, and cracking jokes with my friends!

Tutoring Subjects

Algebra

Anatomy

Anatomy & Physiology

MCAT Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

Biology

College Biology

Graduate Test Prep

High School Biology

Homework Support

Math

Other

Physiology

Pre-Algebra

Science

Q & A

What might you do in a typical first session with a student?

Probably something like this: 3 minutes introduction, getting to know each other, then 20 minutes of work. After 20 minutes, another 3-5 minute break of getting to know each other, then another 20 minutes of work. Rinse and repeat, work and earning breaks!

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By using the notes and the textbook. To be honest, between those two sources and a little self-guidance you can find the steps to close to 90% of your problems or questions! Also if you have notes, looking at the "headers" of the notes or understanding how the notes are built from a teacher's point of view!

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Build in small breaks with a short (3-5 minute) engaging activity: a game of connect 3, conversation about video games, a round of table hockey, positive framing, etc.! In addition, talking each time we meet about the progress being made in class.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

I'd use multiple methods: first try in my own intuitive way to explain it and how I understand it. If not, give an analogy. If still that doesn't work, going on YouTube and finding the appropriate video or finding a virtual "lab" or example that we can work with. The whole idea is if you don't get something, try getting explained in a DIFFERENT WAY! Somewhere, someone can explain it to you no matter if you are a visual, audio, or physical learner!

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

Have them read problems aloud, and if they don't understand a word, either have them look it up or give them examples so they can come up with a definition by using the context clues. In addition, for many subjects they use the same words repeatedly (spiraling), so after a certain point they will understand the word since they have seen it repeatedly. Also, stopping in the middle of reading and asking the summarize or analyze what they read is a great tool, in addition to asking their opinion on what they read or asking them to draw parallels to real life current events.

What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?

The #1 strategy is doing a few problems with them while using their notes of their book. This leads to them becoming an independent learner so that they know how to look for answers instead of feeling helpless. Tackling that "helpless" feeling is the first thing that needs to be done! Also, positive framing and encouragement even after just 1 problem! Every step is a significant step.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?

Surround the subject with "fun" activities, objects, or examples: whiteboard, culturally relevant problems, real-life use, trashketball, questions which count as "points" that they track weekly, positive phone calls to parents, etc.

What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?

First, "teach back," in which the student must summarize the steps to a problem OR the concept they just understood. In addition, acting like a "wrong student" and giving a wrong answer in which the student must point out my mistakes in my answer. Lastly, constant oral check for understandings.

How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?

Tracking progress via a point system can be used as well as giving mini "exit slips" at the end of a lesson, which covers the key points which we covered and assesses them. The teach back method as well as pointing out my mistakes in the "student teacher role swap" would also serve to build their confidence.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

For any subject reading needs to be evaluated by having them read certain sections of text or problems aloud, then stopping and asking them to summarize what was read or doing a check for understanding. For any problems involving logical steps such as math or science, asking the student the next "step" in the logical problem and how they know what their answer is. To "back up the answer" with evidence. Also, evaluating their focus in our current location: some students needs quite calm places, while others can be surrounded by distractions and still focus.

How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?

It depends on the student and the class. For example, if algebra allows a calculator but they struggle with computation, asking them to give a guess as to answers before plugging into the calculator. This way we work both algebra and computation skills simultaneously. Also, if they are more of a visual learner drawing pictures or showing diagrams will be necessary. Analogies and having them "explain like I'm 5" can also be used as adaptations for teaching material.

What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?

In my classroom I used whiteboard, diagrams, flow charts, graphic organizers, colored notes, drawings, and more.

What is your teaching philosophy?

Break it down to chewable bites, and build up from there!

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