Tatiana
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: University of Kansas - Current Undergrad, Biology and Psychology
ACT Composite: 33
ACT English: 35
ACT Math: 34
ACT Reading: 33
ACT Science: 33
My hobbies include playing basketball, trying different foods, exploring outdoors, and meeting new people!
Anatomy & Physiology
College Biology
College English
Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
General Biology
High School Biology
High School English
Other
Summer
What is your teaching philosophy?
Improvement is the biggest key to success. No one is an expert, but with hard work, you will learn much and move closer to your academic goal.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
First, I will introduce myself and my background in the desired topic, and then learn about the student and their relation with the topic. We will go over general concepts before pinpointing the problem areas. Each session afterwards will be targeted toward an area of interest.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Teach the student various techniques to aid them in their studies. Reading the chapter, watching videos online, and practice are my three key concepts to a successful independent learner.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Praise them for what they have accomplished, and don't criticize mistakes. Keep your eye on the prize, despite setbacks.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Read sentence by sentence slowly, and then write brief ideas or a one sentence summary next to the paragraph. After the passage/chapter, go back and re-read your ideas and repeat out loud what happened.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Ask them to explain a specific idea or ask them various questions that apply the concepts learned. When you explain material to someone else, you actually understand it better yourself; therefore, if the student can effectively explain the ideas to me, then they understand the material better.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
First, ask the student if there is a specific type of question or area of study that they are struggling with. Then, review concepts in that desired field and address any problem areas the student faces.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Each student is different. Some work best with verbal explanation; others need a picture. I tend to provide multiple ways to understand the same concept in order to address all aspects of learning. If a student does not understand the material I present, I present it in a different pattern.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I have my notes from the classes the student may be enrolled in, as well as test prep guides. I frequently advise students to watch certain educational videos on YouTube that further explain concepts I describe. Whatever the student needs to succeed, I find a way to provide.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Describe the concept in a different way, whether that be a metaphor, a picture, or an everyday life example. Going back to the basic ideas also help, especially when dealing with science-related topics. Once the basic ideas are fully understood, then we build up into more difficult topics. Practice problems help as well, in terms of test prep, because sometimes it is easier to understand a concept when you see its use.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Focus on the final goal and how you can apply these concepts to real life. There are multiple ways to teach a concept, so by switching up styles, you keep the student engaged.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Praise them for correctness, and encourage them for trying when they are wrong. Improvement is the goal.