Alexandra
Certified Tutor
I am a senior undergraduate student, and I am receiving my Bachelors of Science in chemistry biology in May 2017 from Northeastern Illinois University. I am committed to education in the fields of STEM and medicine. For the past two years, I have been working with Peer-Lead Team Learning International Society program at Northeastern Illinois University, facilitating weekly seminars and exam reviews, tutoring and mentoring over 100 students enrolled in different level chemistry courses. I tutor many different subjects in science, math and Russian language, however tutoring chemistry have always brought me the most joy. As a student myself, I know how science courses are often seen as challenging, intimidating, or even weed-out courses, and I am extremely passionate about helping my students to overcome the difficulties they might have with the subjects, helping them succeed in their academic careers, and gain the confidence in their knowledge and skills. I approach each students needs individually and provide comfortable and engaging environment for learning. I encourage active participation, and help students become a life time learner. In my free time, I enjoy literature, film, music, art, and stay active.
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Undergraduate Degree: Northeastern Illinois University - Current Undergrad, Chemistry // Minor in Biology
Medicine, STEM research, Art, Music, Literature, Cinematography
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- College Chemistry
- High School Chemistry
- Languages
- Organic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Quantum Mechanics
- Russian
- Science
What is your teaching philosophy?
I truly believe in benefits of an individual approach to student's needs and active learning. You cannot retain the knowledge if you are not using it actively.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Evaluate the student's needs and abilities.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
By teaching a student how to be an active learner, by providing the student with helpful tools and resources, and by challenging the student to grow further and expand their understanding of the subject.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Help the student to see their own progress and improvements.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Try a different approach. Try using everyday examples to explain the concept.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Show them how to break down the text and derive the information from it, look for key words, rephrase information, etc.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Allow the student to attempt to solve a problem on their own at first, and carefully guide them through the process.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Explain to the student some of the practical applications of that subject/concept, and try to relate them to some of the things that the student is interested in.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Check back for understanding, and ask questions that would make the student think about the concept.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I usually tell them what my experience was with the subject, how intimidating it was, and that now I'm tutoring this subject. Encourage the student to work on challenging problems, encourage the student's attempts to solve the problem/answer the question, even if the student isn't confident in the answer.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Through discussing the reasons why the student decided to find tutoring, and through assessing the student's knowledge/skills/abilities through practice questions/problems.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
In any way the adaptation could be needed. I adjust my approach, the pace, level of difficulty, and many other factors.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Practice problems, textbooks, tables and charts, visual aids, molecular model kits, and any useful resources that students prefer.