Rachel: Fountain Valley tutor
Certified Tutor
I am a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit, Mi. I received my Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a focus in ecology and environmental systems in May 2015. In July 2015 I got married to my husband after 8.5 years together. He is currently a medical student for the US Army and so, I am traveling all over the country during his clerkship rotations. I have had a great opportunity to tutor 4th grade children at an ESL school in Detroit on various subjects, but I am looking forward to tutoring other grade levels. I can tutor various subjects, but I am most passionate about ecology, geology, and earth sciences. The earth and its systems provide us with what we have today and it’s important to be conscious of how all the parts work together, and I think its fun to learn about. My tutoring style includes using assignments or possibly books to highlight the main topics, identify areas where students struggle and use their input in coordinating solutions to those struggles, then getting the student to think critically alone about the assignment, afterwards going over it together. I also like to get students involved by having them draw visual aids while describing a certain subject or problem, and videos that we talk about. I am a strong proponent of the environment and I try to get students to have the same appreciation and interest. As a prior collegiate athlete, I know it is important to have realistic goals and know how to organize them, which I try to instill in all the students I hope to encounter. In my spare time I run and participate in races, collect minerals and rock specimens wherever I go, I love to explore all the new areas I get to go, and I enjoy any outdoor activity.
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Undergraduate Degree: Wayne State University - Bachelors, Environmental Science
Fitness, Running, Geology, Mineral Collection, Animals
- Biology
- College Biology
- Earth Science
- Environmental Science
- Geology
- High School Biology
What is your teaching philosophy?
Tutoring is another tool in the toolbox of accumulating knowledge. I can only hope that with a coordinated effort we can achieve many learning goals.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Introductions, getting to know the student's goals and what they want from each session, identifying where the student is with the subject by having an introductory assignment, and then going through the assignment together to touch on certain subjects we might encounter and to see if they like how I work. Finish a session with a "homework assignment" about where they need help.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Instead of giving answers I like to ask questions to get students to think critically and use prior knowledge. I like to make a trail of questions to lead them to the goal answer.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Give supplemental videos about the subject for weekly assignments completed to supplement and stimulate them to do well.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Take it slow and try new techniques.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I read aloud to the student and show them how to break down the sentences or paragraph to the important information.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Ask the same questions and different points in the lesson.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Praise for things they are doing well with, even though there are other parts they struggle with, and highlight them.