Galen

Certified Tutor

My primary goal as a tutor is to give each student an individual connection to the material they are learning, and I have been practicing this goal since I began teaching seven years ago.

I have taught one-on-one, online, and in classrooms. My youngest students were getting ready to start kindergarten, and my oldest were close to retirement. Through these varied experiences, I have learned to adapt my teaching strategies to suit the needs and interests of each student I work with. I believe that for students to be excited about learning, the material has to be important to them. By allowing each student’s interests to guide how they learn the information, I help them to understand and remember the material rather than just complete the problem in front of them. I am passionate about teaching and flexible in my approach. If something is not working, I believe that it is my job as a tutor to adjust my methods—not the student’s job to conform to them. I use my students’ strengths to help them overcome what challenges them, whether that means using imagination exercises to decode difficult reading passages or tackling grammar as though it were a math problem. Through this approach, I help my students to build confidence, thereby ensuring that they can succeed when facing problems on their own.

I believe that trust and respect are key components of a successful tutoring relationship, and I treat my students with as much respect as I ask from them. I am punctual, considerate, and professional. Entering someone’s home and life is a big responsibility, and I take that responsibility seriously.