Jessica
Certified Tutor
Throughout my academic and professional careers, I have always enjoyed mentoring younger individuals through activities like tutoring and advising. During my undergraduate career at Cornell University, I served as an orientation leader and student adviser for classmates in my major. While pursuing my MBA at Columbia Business School, I participated in the Harlem Tutorial Program, where I worked across a range of subjects with elementary and middle school students. I enjoy finding new ways to help others through my own knowledge and experience, and always try to use methods that resonate most with the specific person I am working with.
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Undergraduate Degree: Cornell University - Bachelors, Industrial and Labor Relations
Graduate Degree: Columbia Business School - Masters, N/A
- SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1520
- SAT Math: 700
- SAT Verbal: 710
- SAT Writing: 800
- GMAT: 700
Crossword puzzles, baking, traveling
- Business
- College Business
- College English
- College Essays
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Essay Editing
- GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment
- GMAT Verbal
- Graduate Test Prep
- High School Business
- High School English
- Homework Support
- Management
- Marketing
- Other
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Summer
- Test Prep
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I always like to begin by identifying the areas with the most potential for improvement, as well as what the student's specific goals are. From there, I work with the student to develop a tailored plan, which includes regular checkpoints along the way to see if anything about our approach needs to be modified.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In a first session with a student, I would make sure to share each other's backgrounds and get to know each other a little bit better. I would ask the student key questions that would help me use the most effective methods possible for the student, such as preferred methods of learning/working styles and goals for our time together.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
You can help a student become an independent learner by not giving him/her all of the answers. With effective teaching methods, you can guide the student to the answer but it is important to give the student time to brainstorm and think through the problem by him/herself.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I would help a student stay motivated by having regular checkpoints with the student where we do not necessarily discuss content, but rather, have an open dialogue about how things are going and what could be changed/improved. I would also make sure to focus on the student's triumphs and progress, even when things aren't necessarily going perfectly.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would try a different method of explaining the concept. I would examine why specifically the student was having difficulty - is it a total lack of understanding, or just one aspect of the concept that is tripping him/her up? By identifying the specific problem, I could look for more efficient ways of approaching the concept.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Reading comprehension can be a tricky subject. I break down each sentence and clause into easier, more manageable chunks. I also have students paraphrase passages, to put the words into more familiar terms.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
After a successful session, I would give the student homework or problems to complete over the course of that week that were similar to what we went over. Based on the results of the homework and going over it together, I would be able to confirm that the student had a solid understanding of the material.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I build a student's confidence in a subject by focusing on the little wins. 100% accuracy will not be achieved right away, so it is important to focus on the progress that is made along the way.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Materials used during a tutoring session widely vary depending on the type of subject being studied. They can include textbooks, homework problems, class lectures, flashcards, and practice tests, to name a few.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would try to make the subject fun! Often we can take things so seriously, and I think it is important to take a step back from time to time and smile. I would focus on the student's little wins in that subject and emphasize the importance of patience, hard work, and determination.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
It is helpful to look at a student's track record in the subject at hand, through grades, test scores, etc. I then like to have a frank conversation with the student, to hear straight from him/her what the areas are that are causing the most trouble and why.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Regular check-ins are key. The benefit of tutoring is one-on-one attention and focus, so I like to make sure the methods and working style being used are seen as effective by both the student and myself. If not, we try new methods until we find one that works for us.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I like to try a variety of teaching methods with a new student, to see which are most effective and "stick." I also like to create a personal relationship with the student and get to know more about his/her background. This helps me hone in on the student's motivations and learning style.