Judy
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: University of Missouri-St. Louis - Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Graduate Degree: Washington University - Master of Arts, Biology, General
Cooking, Reading, Teaching, Home Renovation
Anatomy & Physiology
College Biology
High School Biology
Molecular Biology
Neuroscience
What is your teaching philosophy?
I try to tailor my teaching style to fit the individual student, but my default is to teach using multiple examples that relate to everyday life, to help the student understand and remember key concepts.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I usually look over their subject matter and study aids, and try to determine the style of their primary teacher. Then, I ask questions to determine what content they are struggling with, and what teaching methods work best for them.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I try to help them learn study skills, not just memorize facts.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I help them to work towards positive, achievable goals such as attaining a certain grade on a test or report, or mastering key concepts.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would try to relate the key points of the concept to examples found in their everyday lives.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I try to find different methods of learning that will help them with comprehension, such as rap songs or rhymes.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
In my experience, the most successful teaching technique is to break down difficult concepts in small pieces and use common examples to illustrate them.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I find out what their interests and hobbies are and show them how they can relate the concepts found in that subject to their interests.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I have found that the best way for a student to show that they understand and comprehend a subject is for them to teach me what they know, this allows them to organize their thoughts and extend their comprehension.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
The ultimate confidence builder is a good grade on a test or paper, but I like to go over their tests with them and show them how they have progressed on key concepts.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I evaluate their past performance and determine where they have issues, and then tailor my tutoring to enhance performance in those areas.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I adapt by focusing on areas where they need the most attention, such as short answers, logic problems, fact memorization, etc.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I like to use diagrams, online videos, and the student's own materials.