
Rebecca
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Indiana University-Bloomington - Bachelors, Economics and Mathematics (interdepartmental), Cognitive Science, Music Performance
SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1480
SAT Math: 770
Classical music and jazz, logic and jigsaw puzzles, food (cooking, trying new things), behavioral economics, organizational psychology, running, soccer,
11th Grade Math
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Writing
12th Grade Math
12th Grade Reading
12th Grade Writing
Adult Literacy
Algebra 3/4
AP Music Theory
Applied Mathematics
Art
Biology
Business
Business Calculus
CLEP Prep
CLEP College Algebra
CLEP College Mathematics
CLEP Introductory Psychology
CLEP Precalculus
College Biology
College Economics
College Math
Conversational French
MCAT Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
Discrete Math
Econometrics
GED Math
GED Reasoning Through Language Arts
High School Biology
High School Business
High School Economics
High School English
High School Writing
Homeschool
Homework Support
IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches
IB Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation
IB Music
Latin 1
Neuroscience
Other
Personal Finance
Probability
Quantitative Reasoning
Study Skills
Study Skills and Organization
Summer
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
A first session will begin with a brief light-hearted conversation to allow the student to share their personal stories as well as goals for tutoring. This is also designed to boost the student's motivation and develop his/her trust in me as a tutor. The session will include some pop quiz questions to assess the student's current understanding. With the remaining time, we will dive into the curriculum that the school or testing board uses or that the student wishes to cover outside of academic requirements.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
My father often told me that the purpose of school is "to learn how to learn." I am a firm believer of this and, as such, I do not spoon feed students during sessions but rather guide them to figure out how to answer their own questions and solve their own problems. Thus, I focus not only on what to do, but how and why to do it. One of the most significant drivers of independent learning is curiosity, and this is one of the primary traits I aim to cultivate in students.
What is your teaching philosophy?
Learning and performing academically are both arts and sciences. As a cognitive science major in college, I studied the hard science of how humans learn: reinforcement, attention, pattern recognition, etc. The "art" is not to be underestimated though: this includes things like motivation, talent, response to pressure and stress, etc. As a tutor, I focus on both these aspects of learning and succeeding both in short-term goals like one assignment or longer-term goals like increasing an SAT score or gaining admission to a selective college.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would relate the concept to one that they already know (i.e. using an analogy) and then point out the similarities and differences. This will help them understand this challenging concept in the context of their other knowledge. Another approach I would use is to combine the big picture with the details. For instance, many concepts that students find confusing can actually be described in one non-technical English sentence. This basic understanding then helps students see how the details fit together rather than just memorizing them. Not to be overlooked, I focus on strengthening students' confidence and motivation throughout the sessions, as these become even more important when students face challenging concepts.