Joseph: Clearwater tutor
Certified Tutor
I've taught elementary, middle, and high school mathematics (basic arithmetic, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II, Trig, AP Statistics) for 3 years and have taught/coached mathematics teachers. I have experience with curriculum development and design and currently work in education policy. Learning is so fun once you realize it doesn't have to be difficult or boring and it's lifelong for me! There is no teaching without learning. No excuses! Just do it! I'm here with you and we will conquer the content!
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Southern California - Bachelors, Philosophy, Politics, and Law & International Relations
Graduate Degree: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor - Masters, Education Studies
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) from MIT, Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Duke, etc. (I've earned 19+ Verified Certificates); Chess/Settlers of Catan/Strategy Board Games; Running; Guitar
- Algebra
- Arithmetic
- Elementary Math
- Elementary School Math
- Geometry
- Gifted
- Homework Support
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Other
- Pre-Algebra
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Summer
What is your teaching philosophy?
There is no teaching without learning. Knowledge is power! No excuses! Work hard, play hard! Anything is possible! You CAN do it! Just put your mind to it. Don't be lame.
Climb high, climb far; your goal the sky, your aim the star.
"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Discover the learning style. Diagnose strengths and gaps in knowledge. Activate prior knowledge to connect/build new knowledge.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Make it fun and challenging!
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Demonstrating how what we're learning is relevant in the world, in general, and for him/her, in particular.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Break it down and take it one step at a time without being boring. Check for understanding throughout.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Build a strong working relationship and trust. Make it fun and keep high expectations. Push the student to push him/herself to realize full potential. Build on their strengths and capitalize on them to address "weaknesses."
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Break up content into manageable chunks and build on students' strengths. Then, tackle gaps in knowledge until they're asking for more challenging problems and creating their own!
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
A diagnostic personal account from the student, parent, and/or a relevant stakeholder.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I base my instruction on my student's strengths, interests, and passions. I build on these to identify and take on gaps in knowledge.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I was a full-time teacher of both remedial and gifted and talented students, so I can differentiate and tailor curricula for each student's unique needs. I have professionally curated curricula and can create a curriculum specifically for each student using proprietary and custom assessments.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Show them early on that they can do it! It's easy and difficult. They need to put in the hard work to improve, but it doesn't need to be boring. In fact, achieving your goals is fun and rewarding. It's downright addictive!
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Check for understanding. RESULTS. Assessments. Qualitative and quantitative assessments. Plenty of formative and summative assessments and data to drive my decision-making to achieve the student's goal effectively and efficiently.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Practice and break it down! Identify important points of view. Diagnose and precisely target where comprehension is breaking down and remedy it by revealing techniques and better approaches to understanding or solving a problem.