Stephen
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Rice University - Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry
I enjoy all sorts of athletics. I run, play soccer and Ultimate Frisbee frequently. In addition, I like trying new things out such as guitar or writing fiction.
High School Chemistry
Life Sciences
Middle School Science
Physical Science
STAAR EOC Prep
What is your teaching philosophy?
Students can learn anything and even enjoy doing it. It is just a matter of how they learn best and how much time they are willing to put into it. It is up to the educator to find how they learn best (visual, auditory, etc.), and it is up to the student to put in the time.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Find out what the student knows and how they like to learn. What do they feel is their best work environment? When was a time they picked something up really quick? I would give them some sort of diagnostic in addition to these questions.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
By helping them realize the tools they need for their individual learning. If they can understand their strengths and weaknesses, they can adapt any study session to their strengths, while avoiding "banging their head against a wall" through their weaknesses.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
What are the student's biggest motivations and desires, regardless of education? Because whatever their motivations, an education is almost always a way to that.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Try teaching the concept in a different way. For example, we may go from book work (visual) to talking about a concept (auditory). Or we might need to stop talking and figure out some hand gesture that can help them remember the flow of the activity (kinesthetic). I love finding new ways to teach the same thing. It makes stuff more interesting.