
David
Certified Tutor
I am a Texas Certified Teacher where I teach physics to 11th and 12th graders at Cy-Ranch High School in Cypress, TX. I mainly tutor juniors and seniors in ACT and SAT, math/science subjects, and educator certification candidates. I thoroughly enjoy tutoring. In my mind, what makes a good tutor is someone who can listen to, interact well, and understand the needs of the student. This is so important because it establishes an environment where both the student and the tutor feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings about the material. In a tutoring session, a student should feel open to ask questions and express concerns.
Outside of academics, I enjoy sports, specifically triathlon. I competed on UT's club triathlon team for four years, and I absolutely enjoyed it. I also play tennis when the weather cooperates. I believe the hard work, dedication, teamwork, and drive necessary to succeed in sport carries over to academics. In addition to triathlon, I enjoy pretty much any outdoor activity: hiking, rock climbing, camping, etc.
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Undergraduate Degree: The University of Texas at Austin - Bachelors, Exercise Science
- ACT English: 32
- ACT Math: 32
- ACT Science: 31
- SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1390
- SAT Math: 750
- GRE Quantitative: 164
running, biking, swimming, anything outdoor!
- ACT Prep
- ACT English
- ACT Math
- ACT Reading
- ACT Science
- ACT Writing
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- Anatomy
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Biology
- Biomechanics
- Business
- College Application Essays
- Geometry
- Graduate Test Prep
- GRE Analytical Writing
- GRE Quantitative
- High School Biology
- Homework Support
- IB Business & Management
- ISEE Prep
- ISEE- Lower Level
- ISEE- Middle Level
- ISEE- Primary
- ISEE- Upper Level
- ISEE-Lower Level Mathematics Achievement
- ISEE-Lower Level Quantitative Reasoning
- ISEE-Lower Level Reading Comprehension
- ISEE-Lower Level Verbal Reasoning
- ISEE-Lower Level Writing
- ISEE-Middle Level Mathematics Achievement
- ISEE-Middle Level Quantitative Reasoning
- ISEE-Middle Level Reading Comprehension
- ISEE-Middle Level Verbal Reasoning
- ISEE-Middle Level Writing
- ISEE-Upper Level Mathematics Achievement
- ISEE-Upper Level Quantitative Reasoning
- ISEE-Upper Level Reading Comprehension
- ISEE-Upper Level Verbal Reasoning
- ISEE-Upper Level Writing
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Science
- Other
- PCAT Quantitative Ability
- Physiology
- PRAXIS
- PRAXIS Science
- Pre-Algebra
- Professional Certifications
- PSAT Prep
- PSAT Critical Reading
- PSAT Mathematics
- PSAT Writing Skills
- SAT Prep
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- Science
- SSAT Prep
- SSAT- Elementary Level
- SSAT- Middle Level
- SSAT- Upper Level
- Summer
- Test Prep
What is your teaching philosophy?
The best teacher is one who understands how the student learns best, so being able to pick up and understand how a student learns is critical.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Go over their goals and concerns. What is the student having trouble with and why? How is material presented in class? What do they hope to accomplish from tutoring sessions?
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Give them time to think. A tutor shouldn't rush a student or jump to the solution without allowing the student adequate time to think. A tutor should also stimulate a student's curiosity and make them internally motivated to learn.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Make small, achievable goals. Make goals for the student to understand things in small chunks. Also, in tutoring sessions, the tutor should encourage the student to play the role of teacher; that way the student can see how much they've learned.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Break it down. How is the material presented in class? What is it about the material that the student has trouble with? How does the student envision learning the material?
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Slow down. I have trouble with comprehension if I read too fast. Then, encourage students to make little summaries of content, in their own words, as they go.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Show them that you are a good listener and that it is an open environment for asking questions, disagreeing, and expressing concerns.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Show them that just because something is difficult to them doesn't mean they can't enjoy it. Have the student realize how the material can be interesting to them.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
For full understanding, see if the student can teach the tutor the material.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Have them realize how much they know and how far they've come. Sometimes when we are struggling, we don't see the learning or progress that is occurring until we reach a certain benchmark, such as a certain letter grade on a test. Learning and progress happens far before that, and tutors should make students realize this.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Have them talk to you. Make it an open environment for discussing concerns. If a student is frustrated, the tutor should make the student feel open to discuss frustrations.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I figure out how the student learns best. That is so key. Also, ask the student along the way, "Do you feel this is working for you/you are understanding this, or would you like to try and learn it from a different angle?"
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Paper, markers, objects, drawings, anything visual that the student can relate to. And if necessary, Google or Wikipedia!