Zil: Harvey tutor
Certified Tutor
I am a recent magna cum laude graduate from the University of Miami, where I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Immunology. Furthermore, I am an accepted medical student and will officially start my medical education in August 2016. As a result of these accomplishments, I know for a fact that dedication and effort can pay off when it comes to academics. While my ultimate goal is to become a physician, I also greatly enjoy helping students learn and reach their academic potential.
From firsthand experience, I understand that most schools provide a cookie-cutter style of teaching that may not be the best way for many students to learn a particular subject/topic. My goal as a tutor is to not only highlight a student's strengths to keep them motivated, but to also challenge them and encourage them to reach new levels of success with their education through a personalized style of learning. As a STEM advocate, I specialize in teaching most levels of math, science, and writing.
I look forward to hearing from you and helping you reach your full academic potential!
Connect with a tutor like Zil
Undergraduate Degree: University of Miami - Bachelors, Microbiology
Sports/working out, reading, volunteering, traveling
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- Biology
- College Algebra
- College Biology
- College English
- College Essays
- Ecology
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Environmental Science
- Essay Editing
- Geometry
- High School Biology
- High School Chemistry
- High School English
- IB Biology
- IB Biology HL
- IB Biology SL
- IB Extended Essay
- IB Mathematics SL
- IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches
- Life Sciences
- Math
- Microbiology
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Science
- Physical Science
- Pre-Algebra
- Psychology
- Public Speaking
- Science
- Social Sciences
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
Every student has what it takes to succeed academically when given the right tools and encouragement, along with an individualized style of learning.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would like to get to know the student and his/her strengths and weaknesses in particular subjects. Then, I would like to analyze what learning styles would work best for the student.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Instead of simply solving a problem for the student, I can walk them through it step by step and explain the parts they do not understand. After helping them through a few examples, I would have them teach me how to do a similar problem so I know whether or not they have grasped the concept. After all, teaching something is the best way to know that you've learned it!
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Challenges are good, but not to the point that a student would want to give up. If a student is unmotivated, I'd emphasize their strengths and then gradually increase the difficulty as they learn the subject more thoroughly.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would use a different method to teach the skill/concept.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I often tell students struggling with reading comprehension to make connections while reading, visualize the narrative, ask questions, and make inferences as they read.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
First, it's important to figure out what the student's strengths and weaknesses are in a particular topic, and then I take it from there by gradually increasing difficulty and helping the student grasp each concept step-by-step.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I like connecting the lesson to real life scenarios and using the student's interests to facilitate his/her learning in a more relatable way.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Repetition, review, and variation are crucial ways to make sure a student understands material. Once they are comfortable doing a certain type of problem, I'd also have them teach me how to do it to make sure they have grasped it properly.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Every student needs to be confident in their abilities, but most students have a break in confidence at some point. To build it back up, I would offer praise and words of encouragement, teach in context, use visuals, make learning goal-oriented, and give them more opportunities to succeed.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I am willing to try different methods of teaching to help a student understand something if a particular method isn't learning. Everyone learns differently, and it is important to acknowledge and embrace that.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I normally use online tools, such as YouTube videos and other educational websites, but am also comfortable using traditional textbooks/workbooks.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
First, I pinpoint the student's weaknesses and then I figure out why this area is difficult for this student. Then, I use various approaches to help the student understand the concept.