Joshua: Greenburgh tutor
Certified Tutor
I am a graduate of Fordham University. I received my Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Communications. Since graduation I have been working as a teaching assistant at Fordham High School for the Arts under Blue Engine, an educational service affiliated with Americorps. Even before college I was a teaching assistant, tutor, and mentor to 6-8th graders under the REACH Program for Regis High School which serves academically gifted students whose families are in financial need. Interestingly enough, I too was once a student in the REACH Program. This is where my love of education and belief that a strong educational background is essential to advancing in life and improving one's circumstances. As an English tutor, I believe that reading comprehension and writing skills are essential to advancing in literary analysis as well as communicational skills. Through scaffolding questioning, deep text readings, and rigorous analytical writing, I believe any student can become a competent English student and communicator. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, film and television, as well as musical criticism.
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Undergraduate Degree: Fordham University - Bachelors, English
- SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1360
writing, movies, poetry, music.
- College English
- College Essays
- Comparative Literature
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- Homework Support
- Literature
- Other
- Reading
- REGENTS Prep
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Test Prep
- Writing
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Through reading comprehension and writing prompts.
What is your teaching philosophy?
Through deep text reading and rigorous analytical writing, students who remain focused and dedicated will be able to achieve 100% subject mastery.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would give them a text to analyze as well as pull textual evidence from to answer a writing prompt based on their understanding and ability to reason.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
By setting time constraints with clear and direct expectations, students will be able to work and struggle alone through a problem to learn to work out their issues before receiving help.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
By setting goals, as well as allowing for rewards and breaks when accomplishments have been met.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would scaffold the concept down to the most basic component and tie it to an idea that would be relevant to their life to build interest.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
By giving them a piece of text to deep read multiple times, students will be able to pick out a significant moment that will tie to a larger theme in the text.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I like to ask questions about hobbies, interests, and gauge what the student dislikes about school. This way I will be able to engage their personality in a manner that will make them most comfortable.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would explain the significance of the idea to pop culture or their lives. This way students will find meaning in the work.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I would use writing prompts along with reading comprehension based writing exercises and multiple choices.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I would explain how their strengths will be able to help them achieve mastery as well as remind them on past successes that will allow for future success.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I try to accommodate all student needs as well as learning styles. Some students need more work time, while others need a more gentle push. Trial and error is the best way to see things through.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I use writing prompts, scrap paper, as well as a white board when necessary to demonstrate writing models.