Alex
Certified Tutor
I love to help students realize their potential. I believe all children and teenagers can perform well in school if given proper support and encouragement from caring adults. Learning should be enjoyable, and not be made to seem like a chore. I incorporate fun and games into my tutoring activities whenever possible.
I received excellent grades on all papers written at Duke University (master's degree) and Emory & Henry College (B.A.), and I can help high school and college students learn to write better papers. I am proficient at US History and can help an AP US History student towards a 4 or 5 on his or her exam. My concentration for both of my post-high school degrees was religion, and I would love to tutor students who are taking religion courses. My favorite hobby is reading, and I believe it is important to instill an enjoyment of reading in students as early as possible. I can help young people who need extra support to become better readers.
I am reliable, easy to get along with, and I love kids! I work with children and teenagers in my primary job, and I am comfortable around kids of all ages. I have two daughters of my own so I know what it is like for parents to want the best for their children. I do what it takes to tutor students to better grades, confidence in a subject, and a sense of self-reliance.
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Undergraduate Degree: Emory and Henry College - Bachelors, Religion
Graduate Degree: Duke University - Masters, Theological Studies
- SAT Verbal: 700
Reading, board games, college basketball
- AP United States History
- AP US History
- College English
- English
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- Homework Support
- ISEE Prep
- ISEE- Lower Level
- ISEE- Middle Level
- Other
- Reading
- Social Studies
- SSAT Prep
- SSAT- Elementary Level
- SSAT- Middle Level
- SSAT- Upper Level
- Test Prep
- World Religions
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe teachers and tutors should remain positive and encouraging at all times with students. We should be willing to help students through struggles and celebrate with them when they succeed. Learning can and should be enjoyable.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
First, we will get to know about one another's interests and hobbies, and depending on the age of the student, play a couple of icebreaker games. Then, I will want to know about the subject(s) the student needs help. I'd like to know about where he or she is in the curriculum and what upcoming assignments are on the horizon. We will jump into the learning on the first day based on what the student is currently studying in class, and I will come back prepared with more student-specific learning tools for future visits.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Students need to be taught confidence that they can do well on their own. Whenever possible, I encourage students to search for the answers on their own, and will offer prodding questions to help them along the way. When helping students revise papers, I will explain why I am suggesting changes in a way that is applicable to future assignments.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Students need realistic and attainable goals that also challenge them. I will help students set smaller goals on the way to their ultimate goal of a better grade and proficiency in a subject.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I remain relentlessly positive with students, even when they are having difficulty or getting discouraged. If necessary, we can go back to a previous lesson to review the building block concepts that students need for the skill or concept they are currently learning.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Fun and repetition are the keys to reading comprehension. Utilizing flash cards for word recognition is key. So is working in books about things the student is interested in. This keeps the reading interesting for the student. While they read something they are interested in, they are learning the skills they needed to be a good reader of all books at their reading level.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Getting to know the student as more than just a student is key. It is important that we get to know each other a little bit--our interests, our hobbies, and our goals in non-academic areas. Getting to know one another is helpful in developing trust.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would keep the goal in front of us. We are engaging in a subject for a purpose--to gain knowledge and skill that is needed to succeed as a student and beyond.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Repetition and review are key to making sure a student understands the material. In addition to moving forward during each tutoring session, it is important to review and solidify what we've already learned.