William
Certified Tutor
I graduated from the University of South Florida obtaining a B.A. degree in Mathematics and a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering. Currently, I am pursuing a Master's degree in Telecommunications and Optics Engineering at the City College of New York.
I started tutoring mathematics shortly after my first semester in college. I love every branch of mathematics, but I tend to gravitate towards Calculus due to its beauty and effectiveness in describing and modeling natural phenomena. However, I feel equally pleased tutoring other math subjects, including, but not limited to: Differential Equations, Algebra, Trigonometry, Linear Algebra, Electrical Engineering courses, and Pre-Calculus.
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Undergraduate Degree: University of South Florida - Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering
Graduate Degree: City College of New York - Master of Science, Electrical Engineering
I love painting and writing short stories and poetry. I also enjoy drawing, traveling, photography, and going to the beach.
- 10th Grade Math
- 11th Grade Math
- 12th Grade Math
- ACCUPLACER College-Level Math
- ACCUPLACER Elementary Algebra
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Calculus BC
- Applied Mathematics
- Calculus
- Calculus 2
- Calculus 3
- CLEP Calculus
- CLEP College Algebra
- CLEP College Mathematics
- College Algebra
- Differential Equations
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Elementary Algebra
- IB Mathematics HL
- IB Mathematics SL
- IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches
- Intermediate Algebra
- Math
- Multivariable Calculus
- Pre-Calculus
- Science
- Trigonometry
What is your teaching philosophy?
Explain the concept, show two examples, and let the student work on a problem and take control.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I introduce myself and let the student introduce himself or herself. I then proceed to ask what material he or she is covering and where he or she is encountering issues. That way, we can start addressing those issues or lack of knowledge.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I always explain the concepts first and then introduce the student to some examples. This allows the student to start understanding the ideas. Afterwards, I give them exercises to work on alone or together, so that they gather confidence. Once you continue with this process, I find that students easily become independent learners by having the confidence necessary to attempt the exercises.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
If I stay motivated and positive about the material, I can easily transmit that same motivation to the students. It is also always good to talk about real life applications and the implications of the knowledge that they are learning, so that they have even further motivation to learn. Lastly, always compliment their efforts.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I break the information down to its basic ideas and build it all up from there. I make sure to back this up with clear examples that I work carefully and slowly, before I test the student. Ultimately, it helps to convey the information in different ways that may allow the student to understand the concepts more easily.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
This is a bit tricky because the strategies that work for one student may not work for another. I always start by identifying the learning style of the student; that way, I can lead the session in the most effective manner for the student to understand the material.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I achieve this by making clear and good explanations and then engaging the student in solving problems. This boosts the student's confidence and allows them to get excited and interested about the material.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I ask questions and quiz the students.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
By inquiring and allowing the students to explain about where they are encountering difficulties.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Always evaluate the students to identify their way of learning new information. Once this is done, one can easily accommodate each student based on his or her way of processing information.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I always stick to the material that the student provides. This allows me to effectively teach the student and make sure that the concepts stay consistent with what the student learns in class and from the textbook.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I always give the student problems to solve on their own during the session. This is the only way one can build confidence in their problem solving skills.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Explain the ideas in a way that the student can understand them. Then, point out key ideas that can be applied in the future, and then let the student read similar ideas again and have him or her explain the idea.