Ell: Petaluma tutor
Certified Tutor
I am currently in my third year of my undergraduate at the University of Washington studying chemistry. One day, I hope to attain my PhD in Chemsitry as well. As a student, I have come to the realization that students don't do well in classes that are strictly lecture based. Students learn in several different ways, and I will adjust myself to those learning styles, whether auditory, visual, kinesthetic, or some combination of the three. I will commit to teaching students that are seeking furthering their minds and intelligence.
Generally, I tutor students from grades K-12. The subjects I tutor are as follows: elementary math, middle school math, pre-algebra, algebra 1 and 2, physiology, science, Japanese, piano, and music theory. I really enjoy teaching piano and music theory because it just so happens to be my passion. I learned how to play the piano when I was six and have yet to stop.
Apart from academia, I attempt to go outside, but I enjoy the comfort of my own home with books and tea and blankets. But when I do leave the house, I enjoy going rock climbing, walking aimlessly through parks, and trying out new restaurants. If I had a more fuel efficient car, I would spend a good deal of time going on road trips. I have also been in orchestra since freshman year of high school.
Connect with a tutor like Ell
Undergraduate Degree: University of Washington-Seattle Campus - Current Undergrad, Chemistry
Piano, upright bass, just music in general
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- Anatomy & Physiology
- College Algebra
- Elementary Math
- Elementary School Math
- Japanese
- Languages
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Music Theory
- Physiology
- Piano
- Pre-Algebra
- Science
What is your teaching philosophy?
That students should be led to the answer and not given the answer.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Review what they are going over in class, and get to know the student so that our later sessions won't be awkward
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Sometimes students will encounter difficulty determining exactly how to study on their own. It depends on the student, but oftentimes, highlighting and notes can be very useful
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Taking breaks frequently to keep up motivation can be great. But if they are too long, then motivation can decline again.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Take a sample problem and walk them through it. Sometimes learning the general concept can help with the specific ideas, and the other way around.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Reviewing what the student is currently learning, and then learning their learning style will help both of us as our sessions continue.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Practice problems are really great for testing knowledge. After the learning session, I would test their knowledge, and if there are still some difficulties, then we would go over what isn't fully understood.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Letting them do questions on their own, and the more that they get correct, the better they will feel on the subject.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
There are several different learning styles, and oftentimes, it will be required of me to move from the lecture style to a more hands-on approach. But truly it depends on the student, and I will do what I can for them.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
This really depends on what I happen to be teaching at the moment. While teaching math and science, I would use the usual pencil and pen and calculator. For music, I'd use paper with staffs and sheet music. For Japanese, I would use the book, pen, and paper.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Sounding out words tends to work very well. The English language also has quite a few weird words, such as "yacht," and learning those will be a more exciting task.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Oftentimes, a subject that is difficult causes quite a bit of stress, and motivation declines as that subject continues. But the promise of learning that subject and no longer being intimidated by it can boost morale and excitement, and as time progresses, that subject could even become enjoyable.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Reviewing exams and homework assignments, especially the missed questions, is a rather great indicator of where my student is in terms of that subject. Tracking progress can be very useful when determining where to assist and where to review as time continues.