Michael
Certified Tutor
I am currently a fourth year medical student at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and graduated Suma Cum Laude from Yeshiva College with a BA in Biology and Music. As a Writing Center tutor, I worked with undergraduate and graduate students looking to improve their writing, and have also tutored Regents-level biology and chemistry. Most recently, I tutored for Kaplan, teaching an MCAT preparatory course and working one-on-one with students. When not studying, I like to ride my bike, train Taekwondo, play blues guitar (or bass, or piano, or saxophone, or drums), and read a good book.
My tutoring philosophy is one of individualized attention and goal setting, where the tutor and the student work together to set realistic goals, and then identify the roadblocks preventing the student from achieving his or her goal. We then work together to surmount these obstacles, allowing the student to actualize his or her goal. I also try to identify the source of a student's obstacles, and work to solve these fundamental issues as well. I am a big believer in teaching someone how to learn, not just teaching material.
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Undergraduate Degree: Yeshiva University - Bachelors, Biology, General
Graduate Degree: Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Current Grad Student, Medical Doctor
- ACT Composite: 34
- MCAT: 39
Biking, Triathlon, Taekwando, Music, Reading
- ACT Writing
- Advanced Placement Prep
- Anatomy
- Anatomy & Physiology
- AP Biology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- College Biology
- College Chemistry
- College English
- College Essays
- English
- Essay Editing
- High School Biology
- High School Chemistry
- High School English
- Science
- Test Prep
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is one of customized goal setting and instruction. Every student is different. They learn differently, and at different paces. I believe in tailoring my lessons to my student, and setting reasonable, attainable goals based on his or her long-term plan.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
The first thing I do when I meet a student is gauge their relationship with the subject matter. What have they learned, and what do they understand? What has worked for them, and what leaves them confused? This helps me understand each student's style of learning, and prevents me from wasting time trying the same things that have already failed.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
The best way to help a student become independent is to teach them how to learn while simultaneously imparting knowledge of the subject matter. This can be done by reinforcing good habits and guiding the student through the underlying logic and reasoning of the subject matter.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Goals are great way to keep motivated. By setting realistic and accomplishable goals, we can keep the student motivated by showing them how far they have already come, not just how much further they have to go.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Most concepts can be explained and grasped by everyone. Difficulties arise when the student does not click with the teaching method employed. There are several different ways to teach a concept, and everyone learns differently. The key is to figure out why the student is having difficulty, address the underlying issue, and then try again with a different teaching method.