
Thomas
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Hamilton College - Bachelor in Arts, Government
SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1510
SAT Math: 730
SAT Verbal: 760
SAT Writing: 700
Video games, movies, indie music, politics, philosophy
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Make the work that the student is doing feel important and relatable. A lack of motivation is a lack of understanding why you're doing something - I won't let that happen.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Break it down into small steps, making sure that each step is easily digestible. Then, locate where the problem is.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Teaching the student how to think for themselves about the task at hand, instead of relying on memorized instructions.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Emphasize the practicality and importance of the subject they are struggling with.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Giving the student a brief quiz of a few questions. The number of right answers doesn't matter; the students explanations for the answers given do.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Make sure they know what in that subject they excel at. Knowing your strengths builds confidence in the whole subject.
What is your teaching philosophy?
Every student has what it takes be brilliant. It's simply a matter of learning to think for yourself.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Get to know him or her a little first. Talk about school, and what they like and don't like.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
By teaching them to try and break down every lesson they learn and attempt to understand it. Memorizing facts doesn't make you smart; understanding them does.