Zachary
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Creighton University - Bachelors, Classical Languages: Latin Track
ACT Composite: 32
ACT Reading: 34
ACT Science: 34
SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1480
SAT Verbal: 800
Reading, especially fantasy and history; Tabletop gaming; Video games; Historical European Martial Arts
College English
High School English
Latin 1
Latin 3
Latin 4
Other
Summer
What is your teaching philosophy?
I feel that students learn best when put in an environment that they enjoy and are allowed to ask questions at their own pace. The teacher is there to guide them and help them learn. In regard to standardized testing, the teacher has to impart all the necessary information to the student, while still making the learning enjoyable and engaging.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
When first meeting a student, I would try to get to know them a little bit, finding out their interests and strengths. I would then try to find out what they want to get from the subject I am teaching, such as what grade they are hoping for, what they intend to do with the knowledge from the class and so on. If there is time after that, I might begin with some initial lessons.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Encouraging questions and a love of learning is the best way for a student to become an independent learner. The more they want to learn, the more they will do to learn.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I would remind the student of their end goal, or, failing that, I would switch topics and try a new approach.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would try a different tactic to try and help the student learn the concept, such as switching learning styles or conceptual approach. If that didn't work, I might try leaving that particular skill for a bit later on.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
If a student is struggling with reading comprehension, it is sometimes best for them to focus on not remembering every single detail of what they have read, but instead identifying key points of the reading, and using those to aid their comprehension.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I find that engaging my student and allowing them to ask questions in the course of their learning to be the most successful in teaching.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I prefer to bring my enthusiasm for the subject I am teaching to my lessons, and try to show my student why the subject is exciting and worth getting engaged in.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I make sure to ask my students questions about what they've learned, and sometimes ask them to explain it to me. Explaining something to someone else is often one of the easiest ways to more fully understand it.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
To a certain extent, repetition is key in building confidence. The more someone has encountered a problem or concept, the more comfortable they are with it. Besides that, the act of learning itself and knowing that you have understood what you're being taught is a great way to build confidence.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Often, the best way to learn what a student needs is to ask them themselves, students often know best what they are struggling with, and asking them helps with that. In addition, light probing questions during lessons can help expose a student’s blind spots and further identify any weak points they may have.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I try to adapt my teaching style and how much I help my student by their proficiency. If my student is struggling with a subject, for example, I may move from simply guiding their learning to more direct assistance.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I tend to primarily use speech and discussions during lessons, but I will also use visual aids if the situation supports it. Depending on my student's learning style, I could also potentially use more kinesthetic aids.