Julia
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: SUNY College at Brockport - Current Undergrad, History & Education
SAT Verbal: 710
SAT Writing: 710
Listening to music, reading, playing guitar and piano, watching movies and going to concerts
College Level American History
High School Level American History
Homework Support
Other
Study Skills
Study Skills and Organization
Summer
US History
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that every student is unique and I do my best to adapt my instruction to best suit their individual needs. I also think that students learn best by "doing;" therefore I work to keep students engaged in their own learning and give them opportunities to practice new skills.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
During a first session, I always introduce myself to the student and then give them a chance to talk a little about themselves. I work with the student to set goals for the session, as well as any long term goals they may have. I also encourage the student to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses in the academic area we will be studying.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I have students set manageable goals for themselves, which helps them to be accountable for their own learning. I also help them to create study schedules and to do lists, so that they can stay on track and continue to learn outside of our tutoring sessions.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I keep my students motivated by encouraging them to keep working hard and celebrating their successes. I like to set goals with my students early on in the tutoring process, so that it is easier to track their growth.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
When a student is struggling, I try to help them by presenting the material in a new way. I might provide them with relevant examples, images, videos, or anything else that will help them think about the concept in a new and meaningful way.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
For history students, I start by asking students about their prior knowledge of the topic, as well as any points of confusion they may have. When I tutor writing, I either have students read their essay out loud or have them put together an outline if they are still in the pre-writing stage.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would start by talking to them about how this subject will impact their current and future goals. Writing, for example, will help them get into college and keeping this in mind will likely help them to stay motivated throughout the tutoring process.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I do my best to check in with my students during and after tutoring lessons to make sure they have grasped the material. I also like to give students the opportunity to explain concepts to me, as this helps them to solidify their own understanding.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I like to talk with students about their prior knowledge, as they likely know much more than they realize. This also helps me to identify gaps in their understanding and address them. Then they will be more confident in their knowledge and skill set.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
For high school students, I find that they are often able to evaluate their own needs and set goals for our sessions. For younger students, it can be helpful to look at how they answer practice problems and evaluate their needs using these results. For all students, it also helps to speak with parents about what they see as the needs of their children.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
After a few tutoring sessions, I can often tell what strategies work best for a particular student and how I can most effectively present material to them. Based on my observations, I will adapt my lessons to best fit their learning style and goals. For some students, I may provide them with more visuals or slow down my explanations, while for other students I will make different adjustments.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
My experience is in working with students in person, so I often rely on visuals to explain concepts to students. I will use a whiteboard or blank paper to show students how to outline an essay or to explain a historical idea. When tutoring online, I can accomplish the same goals by sharing relevant videos, photos, and other visual representations with my students.