John
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: College of the Holy Cross - Bachelors, English and Political Science
Watching and playing sports, reading, going outside, listening to music, watching TV and movies, dancing
AP US History
College English
College Level American History
Comparative Literature
High School English
High School Level American History
US History
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is guided by the idea that the most important way to learn is through giving others the confidence to excel and discover their inner belief. I ask questions and structure my response accordingly so that the instruction is tailored to meet the student's needs and is deeply personalized.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In a first session with a student, I will probably introduce myself and talk a little bit about me. Then, I would ask the students similar questions to establish an immediate bond with them. After that, I would ask the student about the current state of their problems in class and what specifically they need help with. I would then use resources I bring to help students work through practice problems, or use the materials the students have in order to resolve their difficulties and succeed in the class.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I can help a student become an independent learner by encouraging them means by which they could retain information. For example, I have found that taking notes in a literature book helps me remain focused and remember what I read. Other methods I could suggest are ways to be organized or how to take notes.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I would help a student stay motivated by providing constant encouragement. In addition, my goal would be to relate the material they learned in class with something in real life that they can connect with and recall when they see similar problems in the future.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would first recommend various ways to tackle a problem. If it was a multiple choice question, I would go through each wrong answer and explain why it is wrong. If it is an essay, I would teach students how to get started and what to think about before approaching an essay question. In the end, I would give students problems to work on related to the concept and have them answer the question thoroughly and completely.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I help students who struggle with reading comprehension through dissecting each paragraph and asking students to pull what is most important from that particular paragraph. I have found that talking about literature is the best way to ensure that a student understands the material.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I would use constant repetition to ensure a student understands the material through engaging all of their senses. I would have them visualize, hear it spoken and have them speak it to engage with as many senses as possible.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I typically would bring materials that I have found that are successful such as practice problems, suggested resources that I have found to be helpful and pen and paper to work on writing essays.