Petra: East Orange tutor
Certified Tutor
I started tutoring at Cleveland State University while earning my Bachelor's and Master's in Chemistry. I loved to see when students grasp the material at hand. With my youngest of 4 currently in high school, I started tutoring again, first at Tri-C as a Science and Math Instructional Assistant and now as a Varsity Tutor as well.
At Tri-C, I do more than just science and math though. Social Studies, Psychology, basic IT, and English are some of the other subjects I help students conquer.
I firmly stand by the statement that every person has the ability to learn, just in different ways. I have experienced this on a day to day basis not only with my own siblings and children, but the students at Tri-C who have learned how to learn. They do not need to visit me as often then for help, but rather they stop in to share with me their successes!
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Undergraduate Degree: Cleveland State University - Bachelors, German1985/Chemistry
Graduate Degree: Cleveland State University - Masters, Chemistry1989/Education
Books, gardening, backpacking, kayaking, travel, my kids
- ACCUPLACER Arithmetic
- ACCUPLACER ESL - Sentence Meaning
- ACCUPLACER Language Use
- ACCUPLACER WritePlacer
- ACT Prep
- ACT English
- ACT Math
- ACT Reading
- ACT Science
- ACT Writing
- Algebra
- AP Chemistry
- Biology
- Chemistry
- College Algebra
- Conversational German
- Geometry
- German
- German 1
- German 2
- High School Biology
- High School Chemistry
- Languages
- Math
- Microbiology
- Other
- Pre-Algebra
- Science
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Test Prep
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
The materials I use depend on the student and the subject. Scrap paper is very important for everything from having extra space to work/draw, to folding, to tearing up; each is to demonstrate an idea.
What is your teaching philosophy?
I think that everyone has the ability to learn and that everyone learns in a different way.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
A student needs to feel comfortable, so the subject at hand is not the only part of the tutoring session. Interests, favorite games, music, movies, etc., are also part of the first session.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
After doing new problems or part of a review, I have the student do some more on her own. I'll even go so far as get up and walk away because I will not be looking over his shoulder during the test.