Darrick: Richton Park tutor
Certified Tutor
I have always loved teaching & getting students ready to accept the challenges, know they can succeed, and just enjoy the ride of exploration. I loved learning from medicine, to biology, to chemistry and psychology. I loved the arts. I have been very lucky to have taught students from age 6 to adulthood in those areas. One of my greatest joy was meeting my little 8th grade science student now an emergency MD.
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Alabama at Huntsville - Bachelors, Psychology
Graduate Degree: University of Alabama at Huntsville - Masters, Developmental Learning
Since I was small I just wanted to eat up information. 1. I love reading nonfiction books 2. going camping or hiking 3. visiting new places with different cultures, food, and architecture. 4. Learning how to play more than 1 instrument - currently flute, accordion, & trumpet in addition to organ, keyboard, & piano. 5. I enjoy time with my family
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Find out about the student. Ask the student about favorite classes and not so favorite classes. What things the teacher does that works for the student. What things teacher did that did not work.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Don't be afraid to answer tough questions - even if you are wrong, because true thinkers do not know all the answers. They have created a process (science) to EXPLORE those answers.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Be positive and give feedback a lot. Take a break when the student needs one. Set clear goals at the beginning and see if they have been accomplished at the end.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Explore strategies on how to read with understanding and how to take notes. Break down large reading assignments to smaller pieces - discussing each piece, and then putting it all together. Create simple to difficult concept maps to reflect what was learned. Use different colors to highlight.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Allow them to succeed in smaller steps to the bigger steps. That means provide POSITIVE feedback. Tell when they are doing something right and give tips on how to keep the progress up rather than saying YOU DID THAT WRONG.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Reflective journals and acting it out. You be the teacher and teach me this concept. Based on the lecture, what 4 things did you learn? Small pop quizzes. Playing a game.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Let them know they are capable. We all learn differently, and we all learn things we like more than other things. Let them know in time, they will get this stuff. Be willing to listen to them without interrupting.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Answers to questions at the end of sessions. Through problem solving and journaling. Quizzes rather than long tests. Knowing the EXPECTATIONS so they can get immediate feedback on what expectations they mastered and expectations they did not master.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Be aware of what works and does not work. That means bring a variety of activities that are different, and see what works. Discuss openly with student what worked and what did not and how we can continue the process even with strategies that are perceived harder.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Textbooks, diagrams, concept maps, and videos.
What is your teaching philosophy?
Students can learn at a high level. They can do this if you allow them to know that we are all different, and we learn differently; therefore, I will practice patience as you understand the objective(s).
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Listen and watch the student. Where are they having problems? Try a different way of dealing with it. I use a lot of demonstrations to make the point. Allow the student to know that if they do not understand; it is more than okay to communicate that with the teacher.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Get to know them first. Get to know what they think works in class and what does not. Establish expectations for our time together. Make very clear at the beginning of each session, what we hope to accomplish, and then see if we did it.