Griffin
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: University of California-San Diego - Bachelors, Biochemistry/Chemistry
Graduate Degree: University of California-San Diego - Masters, Chemistry
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10th Grade Math
11th Grade Math
12th Grade Math
1st Grade
1st Grade Math
1st Grade Reading
2nd Grade
2nd Grade Math
2nd Grade Reading
3rd Grade
3rd Grade Math
3rd Grade Reading
3rd Grade Science
4th Grade
4th Grade Math
4th Grade Reading
4th Grade Science
5th Grade
5th Grade Math
5th Grade Reading
5th Grade Science
6th Grade
6th Grade Math
6th Grade Reading
6th Grade Science
7th Grade
7th Grade Math
7th Grade Science
8th Grade
8th Grade Math
8th Grade Science
9th Grade Math
Algebra 3/4
College Biology
College Chemistry
College Math
DAT Quantitative Reasoning
Elementary Algebra
Elementary School
Elementary School Math
Elementary School Reading
Elementary School Science
General Biology
General Chemistry
High School Chemistry
Honors Chemistry
HSPT Quantitative
IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches
Life Sciences
Middle School Science
Neuroscience
OAT Quantitative Reasoning
Other
PCAT Chemistry
PCAT Quantitative Ability
Physical Science
Quantitative Reasoning
SAT Subject Tests Prep
Summer
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that each student needs to develop a personalized approach to learning in order to successfully engage in their subjects and achieve the academic goals they desire. As a tutor, I care deeply about learning the strengths of my students so that I can develop this approach and guide them towards success.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I find it best to ask the students what they feel they are struggling with and spend time finding out how they can improve in these areas, while maximizing the areas they are already successful with.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
In order to help a student become an independent learner, I can help show a them where their strengths and weaknesses lie, and how they can approach learning from a standpoint that builds confidence in their ability to solve the problems they are faced with.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I can help a student stay motivated by teaching them how to approach academic issues in a general sense, so that when they are encountered with a new problem, they will be able to approach it with confidence. The subject matter needs to be actively engaged, and I can show a student the practicality of what they are learning and encourage interest in that subject.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
If a student is having difficulty learning a concept or skill, approaching the solution from an alternative viewpoint or providing an analogy is helpful in presenting the information in a personalized way that can be learned by the student. Each student absorbs information differently, and it is important to approach a problem in a way that maximizes their ability to succeed.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I can help students struggling with reading comprehension by teaching them how to actively read the information presented to them in a passage and apply it to questions related to the subject matter.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
A personalized approach is the best way to lead students toward individual success. Having studied cognitive science, I believe that the way each person fundamentally approaches and solves problems is very different, and this needs to be the primary focus when deciding how to guide them toward a better approach to learning.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Providing background information or interesting facts about a particular subject can help a student realize that they are solving a problem rather than doing a chore. Academic success is best achieved through active engagement with the materials and presenting the information in a way that draws the attention of the student. Realizing when a student isn't interested is very important, and I can help them focus on the topic by presenting it in a way that suits the individual.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I believe that a student must solve a problem in order for them to fully grasp the material. I ask that my students demonstrate their knowledge by presenting them with practice materials and questions to demonstrate their mastery of the material.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
A student's confidence goes hand in hand with their success. Teaching a student to be successful by utilizing the skills they possess can build their confidence in solving problems and absorbing material by reducing the frustration associated with the difficulties they have faced in the past. A strong work ethic and understanding of where they can improve their study habits will help a student believe that they can achieve their academic goals.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I evaluate my students' needs by having them guide me through a problem they are struggling with and assessing where they need to improve. Once a student understands that they are often stuck on a small portion of a problem that they can mostly solve or that their study habits can be improved, they approach their learning from a "can do" viewpoint instead of an "I don't understand" viewpoint.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Tutoring is all about adapting to a student's needs. Motivation, conceptual misunderstanding, lack of interest, lack of foundations in the subject, stress, and many other issues can lead a student to struggle with their materials. Finding the right approach to each student's learning needs is fundamental to their success, and something that I take great joy in guiding them through.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
As I teach many quantitative disciplines, a pencil, paper, highlighter, and a scientific calculator are my main materials. With the online platform that the online platform provides, screen shots, equation generators, color coded text and many other materials give me the ability to personalize my approach toward a student's individual learning needs.