
Rebekah
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Columbia University in the City of New York - Bachelors, Psychology
SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1450
SAT Verbal: 710
writing, reading, music, science, arts
College English
Conversational Spanish
High School English
Other
Social Sciences
Spanish 1
Summer
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that successful teaching occurs when the students become curious about the subject matter for themselves. The best way to optimize academic performance is to instill in students a self-motivated interest in what they are learning, while providing guidance and support to ensure the students maximize their potential.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
First, I think it's important to get to know one another to a certain degree--to understand each other's teaching/learning styles and to ensure the student is comfortable. Then, I would review and assess what the student already knows, as well as his/her feelings about the subject matter.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Again, the best way to help students learn on their own is to teach in a way that makes the subject matter relevant and interesting--self-motivated curiosity is much more powerful than learning that is done for the sake of getting grades and nothing more. Additionally, it is essential to impart techniques and studying strategies that can be used at home. When a student has honed his/her ability to think critically, learning can occur successfully in and out of the classroom.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Sometimes it's hard for a student to see the reason for staying motivated and doing well in school. A good tutor can help students discover why learning and doing well is important to them, and help cultivate passion that will ultimately be much more sustainable than doing work because of obligation. Additionally, a good tutor can help expand a student's horizon and make him/her excited about what doing well can bring them.