Victoria
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Hamilton College - Bachelors, Biology, General
ACT Composite: 32
ACT English: 33
ACT Math: 32
ACT Reading: 32
ACT Science: 33
SAT Verbal: 700
GRE Verbal: 167
I enjoy walking my dog, hiking, and listening to music. I'm also trying to teach myself French.
What is your teaching philosophy?
The most important characteristic a tutor can have is patience. It can be very difficult for a student to admit that they need help, and they will be much more responsive to a tutor that is able to break down the material without being condescending.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
During my first session with a student, I like to gauge their knowledge and their learning strategy. I like to see where in the course they began to "lose it," so we work toward what they are currently working on in class. It is difficult to understand the more complicated material if they basics don't make sense!
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
In math, I find that even when students understand the concepts, they may struggle with when and why to apply different equations. To help the student become an independent learner, I like to help them look for key words and phrases so they know how to answer the question on their own.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Students are more likely to stay motivated when they know they are making progress. I like to focus on what they are doing right and how they have improved, rather than what they are doing wrong.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I know it can be very frustrating when a concept just won't make sense, especially in math. To overcome that, I think the best approach is to review what concepts/ideas are necessary to complete the problem. We will start with the simple ideas, and once those make sense we will work towards the most difficult parts of the problem.