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Edwin

Certified Tutor

I am a great tutor because I take an approach of learning and studying with the individuals I tutor rather than make it a teaching session, which is like being in class all over again. Moreover, I am a very patient, respectful individual who is great at problem solving and adapting to the individuals with whom I work. Some of my worst tutoring experience was working with an individual who was okay with getting a passing grade and not striving to get more. It makes me feel unfulfilled but gladly after a few weeks of working together, we pulled that C- to a B and from there he showed a bit more urgency and concern. I've also had some great experiences. I helped one middle school student bring up her grade in science. The improvement was so positive that whenever I went to tutor, the family made me feel like a member of the household. That was a very great experience.

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Edwin’s Qualifications
Education & Certification

Undergraduate Degree: Christopher Newport University - Bachelor in Arts, Biology, General

Hobbies

Tutoring, everything soccer, watching movies and helping others.

Tutoring Subjects
6th Grade
7th Grade
9th Grade
Algebra
Biology
Chemistry
College Biology
College Chemistry
Elementary School
General Biology
High School
High School Biology
High School Chemistry
Math
Middle School
Middle School Math
Other
Pre-Algebra
Science
Summer
What is your teaching philosophy?

Simple: let's learn together. After a student sits in class for about 6-8 hours, the last thing he or she would want is to be in another teaching setting. My philosophy is to see me as a classmate with whom you're studying. By so doing, I get rid of any tension, thus helping me to easily tutor my students.

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

In a typical first session, I try to get to know the study habits of a student. This is a way for me to determine a better way to help the student understand the material on the table.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help a student to become an independent learner by helping them come up with alternative ways, by which they might better understand the material assigned than before.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

There is no ceiling. I work random math problems in my head while I am driving, so why should my students be content with a good grade? Motivation is from within, but I'm going to channel that out by showing the student that getting a good grade is only a small part of learning and keeping up that good habit.

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

Nothing comes easy. In difficult times, I'll dissect the problem into smaller pieces with the student and tackle it step by step, and then tie it all in together at the end.

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

Reading comprehension is harder when you have to actually "comprehend." If a student is struggling in this area, I'll help them by getting them to bring in a book or something little he or she enjoys reading, and we'll build a habit there and work our way up.

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

Willingness to be repetitive and incorporate the interests of the student, and build from there. Students retain stuff a lot better when they have scenarios or experiences they can relate it to.

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

Like I said before, dissecting the subject matter and taking it at a progressive pace is a start. To help a student get excited, I'll play games that encompass the materials in the subject with the student. This will help raise the student's level of interest, thereby creating the stage of willingness to engage.

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

Repetitiveness. This is the best tool a tutor can have. Repetition with a variety of relevant words will always be my technique.

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

Confidence is a personal matter. However, to build my student's confidence, I'll start at a slower and lower level in a given subject and work my way up. At every level, the student will get a better understanding and the rest will build on from there; confidence level rises.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I evaluate a student's needs by asking them simpler questions than what I need to help them with, to see how much help they might need or how much of the subject matter they already know.

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

I like to not have a defined style, and work with my students to better help them the way each needs to be helped. I use several techniques to see which one draws any interest or positive reaction from the student, and then carry on from there. I'm willing to try several methods until one is tailor-made for each student.

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

During tutoring sessions, I prefer to use notes taken by the students themselves. This tells me a lot about their understanding level. I also use my tablet as a calculator or for backup when extra information online is needed.