Katherine
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Indiana University-Bloomington - Bachelors, English, French
Graduate Degree: University of Colorado Boulder - Current Grad Student, English
SAT Math: 700
SAT Verbal: 700
Art, hiking, painting
College English
Comparative Literature
High School English
SAT Subject Test in Literature
SAT Subject Tests Prep
What is your teaching philosophy?
Every person learns differently, so when I teach I keep this in mind. I adapt my teaching style to students as teaching is not for my benefit but for theirs. I believe a student should be given the opportunity to learn not simply what an answer is, but also how to come up with the answer and why the answer is appropriate.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In a first session, I work to find out what a student's learning style and goals are so we can build our future sessions with these in mind. It is important that students feel comfortable with me so we will know best how to communicate with each other and work well to achieve our goals.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Learning independently requires not only dedication but also having a workable toolbox. To help students develop their ability to work alone, I aim to provide the methods for that toolbox by providing information about how to look at questions and problems in the future, rather than just how to answer them.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
If a student is having difficulty learning a concept, I believe in retracing our steps. Finding out where the origin of the confusion lies is the first step in working out how to make the concept more accessible. Once we know where a student is first lost, we can work together to make sure everything that comes after that is more thoroughly explained and understood.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I believe in multifaceted learning techniques. While different styles suit different students, and I adapt my teaching style to be most appropriate for any student, I also encourage students to round out their knowledge through additional techniques once the material is understood. For example, if a student works best with memorization, once that has been completed, I would introduce varied examples to be certain that the material isn't simply understood as a concept but also as an active idea.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
A subject can be incredibly frustrating when it's not understood, and teaching at that level is ineffective. To build confidence in a subject, I work forward from a student's most stable understanding of the topic, rounding that out and expanding upon it until the student is ready for the next steps.