Nathan
I graduated last May from Loyola Marymount University, finishing up my honors college education with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and a minor in Journalism. I have had a passion for working with children ever since I started helping out in my dad’s sixth grade class from middle school age-on. Over my years in high school and college, I served as a camp counselor at many different academic and sports summer camps. I also tutored my friends and peers when they needed help in a certain subject or on a paper, I helped develop young writers as a full-time editor for my college newspaper, and most recently I worked with first through eighth graders at a private school as a youth development professional with the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica. I have always valued my education and given everything to succeed in school, and I hope to help any student I tutor to make the most of their time spent in a classroom and at home working on every assignment. I am prepared to teach any subject, but more specifically I am best with math or a student looking to improve his/her writing at any age level. Music and sports are my other passions, so you will always find me with a classic rock or R&B song stuck in my head, a tennis racquet in my hand, or a Giants/A’s/49ers game on the TV. I also enjoy keeping up with the best television shows and movies, reading a book, exercising, and enjoying a sunny day. I am excited to help your son or daughter get a better grasp on any subject and help them love learning as much as I do!
Loyola Marymount University - Bachelor in Arts, Communication Studies
College English
Elementary School Math
High School English
Other
Study Skills
Study Skills and Organization
Summer
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is that every student has the ability to succeed. This helps me approach every student the same way, supporting their strengths and working on any difficulties in a friendly and optimistic environment.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
On the first day I need to spend a little time to get to know my new student. Talking to the student and having him/her tell me what they think they need to work on, and which study habits work best for them, is very important to understand from day one.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I like to challenge my students to work on tasks between lessons or at certain points during the week when I'm not there. This challenges them to become independent and learn how to approach challenging concepts when I'm not there to help.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Helping a student stay motivated is all about positive reinforcement. Every little success is important, and difficulties need to be approached optimistically so that a student knows that anything is doable, and every weakness can become a strength over time.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
If a student is not learning a concept, then I will approach that subject another way. I have been working with kids long enough that I can tell when we have hit a wall, so it is important not to frustrate them and instead take it from a new viewpoint.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
It is important for a student who struggles with reading comprehension to not be afraid to admit that they don't know what a word means. If it's asking me or constantly looking up definitions, soon those troubling words will become a part of their vocabulary.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I like to have a mix of working on problems together and letting the student do problems independently while I observe. This gives me insight as to how they approach a problem and how I can help them in the future.
