Donald: Niles tutor
Certified Tutor
I have been teaching for the past 12 years at a local public high school. I have taught a variety of social studies courses, including:
World History
AP World History
U.S. History
Psychology
Sociology
Societal Law
I have taught many of these classes at various learning levels (Inclusion, Academic, Honors, Advanced Placement) with great success. I also have taught students online through the Penn Hills Cyber Academy and challenging students through the Penn Hills Alternative Education Program.
I have received degrees and certifications from the following institutions:
University of Pittsburgh-BA History w/ related area in Economics-Cum Laude (December 2000): GPA-3.5
Carlow University-Teaching Certification in Secondary Education Social Studies (December 2003): GPA-3.8
Received Instructional II Certificate in Social Studies (May 2009)
I not only love teaching social studies, but I also make it a part of my life. I love watching historical documentaries and movies so I can learn more that I can pass on to my students.
In my spare time I enjoy doing activities with my wife and daughter, playing strategy and board games, watching sports and jogging. I am also very involved with my church, previously serving as youth coordinator and presently serving as an elder.
Connect with a tutor like Donald
Undergraduate Degree: University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus - Bachelors, History
Loves to jog, enjoys spending time with young child and wife.
- AP World History
- College Geography
- College Level American History
- College World History
- European History
- Geography
- High School Geography
- High School Level American History
- High School World History
- History
- Social Studies
- US History
- World Civilization
- World History
- World Religions
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe in student-centered teaching that engages students and requires them to make inquiries and connections to previous knowledge and concepts in order to understand current knowledge and concepts. The teacher is a guide in this sort of learning, a guide that moves student's learning towards rigor and relevance.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would introduce myself to the student, find out where the student's strengths and weaknesses are in the academic area that they are studying, ask them if they are comfortable with a certain learning style (i.e.-visual, auditory), and then begin to adapt the tutoring session to best fit their strengths and learning style.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Not by giving students the answers that they seek but by guiding them to the answers that they seek through:
1.) Teaching of critical thinking skills. 2.) Teaching how to connect prior knowledge to present knowledge to make conclusions.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
By showing the student that what they are learning builds off of previous knowledge and is building towards something that is relevant to their life.