Evan
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Bachelor of Science, Physics
making electronics,playing guitar, and anything Physics!
C
C#
C++
College Chemistry
College Computer Science
College Physics
Computer Programming
CSS
Data Structures
Elementary School Math
General Chemistry
High School Chemistry
High School Computer Science
High School Physics
HTML
Java
JavaScript
Linux
Mac Basic Computer Skills
PC Basic Computer Skills
PHP
Spanish 1
SQL
Technology and Coding
What is your teaching philosophy?
I promote curiosity by not limiting students to a particular solution. I encourage them to find their own solution by providing them the necessary tools to solve all possible cases.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I believe in working efficiently. To be successful in this, I listen to my students' problems. I focus on what they are struggling with instead of wasting time on things they already know.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I encourage every student to think positively. Everyone learns at a different pace. The important thing is to be confident. I live by the motto: it is not what you cover but what you uncover. If I can help a student see that deep down they know the answer, then I consider my work a success.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
It is important to remind them of their goal. This can be done by doing checks along the way. If they feel overwhelmed, then we need to break the task up into manageable pieces. Most importantly, I encourage them to think positively.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Failure is an opportunity to learn. Everyone struggles with something. Instead of skipping over the topic, I ask the student to try to explain the topic to me. That way, we can see what they are misunderstanding. That is a start.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
First, I recommend that the student read the text out loud. This way they will not skip over words. Secondly, I would encourage the student to take up reading as a hobby and not a task. Then they will be improving their skill level and maturing at the same time.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Listening is key when working with a student. The more I know about a student's situation, the easier it will be for me to make a tailored plan that will help them. Then, I try engaging the students by asking them questions, answering their questions, and having them explain their understanding of the concepts that we cover.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
First and foremost, my tutoring sessions require a little bit of laughter. It easy to get stressed while studying difficult subjects. Having fun lightens the mood and makes things more tolerable. This could include anything from silly jokes to funny mnemonics.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
It is important that we cover the material that the student's instructor covers. When I am working with a student, whether it is for homework or test prep, I frequently stop and ask the student about what we just did. Then, I will know if they understood what we were doing. At the end of each session I like to do a recap of what we covered. Then, I give the student the opportunity to ask any questions. This helps improve their confidence and understanding.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I encourage students to set goals. They can start small, and as we work together, they will see what they've accomplished. This method gives the student positive affirmation.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I believe it is important to look at what the student has achieved academically and to listen to what they have to say. The combination of these two things helps develop a more empirical understanding of their needs.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I try to help the student learn by using a variety of methods. Maybe they are better visual learners. Or perhaps they prefer auditory learning. It's possible that that they might learn best by just doing the task and having me aid them as they go along. The best way to adapt to the student's needs is to give them all of the options and see which one works best.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Depending on the subject, I bring different resources. For my science and math subjects, I have developed a couple of quick reference sheets. I typically go off of what the student brings. It isn't worth it for me to bring obscure worksheets. It will lead to me going over material that they will never use. I always bring a pencil and paper!