
Richard
Certified Tutor
My name is Richard Sanchez and I attended Louisiana State University for my M.A. in Philosophy. I concentrate in logic and history of philosophy. I believe that the history of philosophy can expose people to the abundant and nuanced ideas that have spread throughout our world.
I attended Hope College for my B.A. in Classical Studies where I focused on the intersections of history and mythology. While attending LSU, I was a Guest Lecturer for Symbolic Logic. This taught me quite a bit about public speaking and helped me develop my teaching philosophy.
The benefit to being a Guest Lecturer rather than a Teaching Assistant is that I actually had the opportunity to lead classes on multiple occasions, while providing additional study time outside the classroom. The students always come first. Whenever I hold study sessions I focus on fun. Activities include weekly logic puzzles and games, fallacies of the day and debate. I believe that the earlier a person can be exposed to the abstract nature of philosophy the better. I even joined PLATO. An organization aimed at the promotion and enjoyment of philosophical education.
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Undergraduate Degree: Hope College - Bachelors, Classical Studies
Graduate Degree: Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College - Masters, Philosophy
Philosophy, Brazilian Jui Jitsu, Video Games and Reading
- College Political Science
- CSS
- English
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- HTML
- Philosophical Ethics
- Political Science
- Technology and Coding
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I concentrate in logic and history of philosophy. I believe that the history of philosophy can expose people to the abundant and nuanced ideas that have spread throughout our world. I attended Hope College for my B.A. in Classical Studies where I focused on the intersections of history and mythology. While attending college, I was a Guest Lecturer for Symbolic Logic. This taught me quite a bit about public speaking and helped me develop my teaching philosophy. The benefit to being a Guest Lecturer rather than a Teaching Assistant is that I actually had the opportunity to lead classes on multiple occasions, while providing additional study time outside the classroom. The students always come first. Whenever I hold study sessions, I focus on fun. Activities include weekly logic puzzles and games, fallacies of the day and debate. I believe that the earlier a person can be exposed to the abstract nature of philosophy the better. I even joined PLATO, an organization aimed at the promotion and enjoyment of philosophical education.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Introductions. Talk about their personal goals and develop a schedule suitable to their best study habits .
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Set goals. Help them learn from past mistakes. Sequence instructions in a variety of ways to instill curiosity.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Sometimes the best way to help students focus is to help them get over what occupies them form their studies. Typically, through discussion.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would make it a personal goal to develop a better way of communicating. It is the teacher's goal to convey meaning.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I use metacognition. I try to develop an overall view of the typical student has issues with. Identify difficulty and the patterns that arise around it.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Remind them that education is just as much a personal responsibility as a group responsibility. Relate concepts to their individual lives.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Sometimes it is hard to see the larger picture and intellectual implications one field has on another. By helping students realize multiple perspectives, they can learn to appreciate the new.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I sometimes like to switch work assignments. I find having students go home and do work by themselves to be pointless when what they should be doing is their homework in class with a professional to help. That way, all work taken home is review.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Education is an individual pursuit. One should never compare oneself with others but rather with one's own progress. Everyone starts off not knowing much.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Through communication with the student, parents and teachers.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I have a formal teaching method that I believe can assist any student's style, while being open to changes in the plan.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
It would depend on the subject, but I like to use anything, from documentaries to the Socratic method to a simple paper and pen.