
Nykolai
Certified Tutor
Education & Certification
Undergraduate Degree: University of Washington-Seattle Campus - Bachelors, Mathematics
Test Scores
SAT Math: 760
SAT Mathematics Level 2: 730
SAT Subject Test in Chemistry: 740
Hobbies
Card Games, Chess, Lifting Weights, Cycling, Snowboarding, Hiking, Board Games, Playing the Bass Guitar, Comics, Video Games
Tutoring Subjects
Applied Mathematics
Discrete Math
Probability
SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 2
SAT Subject Tests Prep
What is your teaching philosophy?
Rather than spend hours banging out problems, I prefer to explore the how and why of mathematical concepts, and I believe that a true understanding leads to solutions faster than repetition.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would enjoy a few minutes of getting to know the person and their interests, and follow up with a discussion of why they are looking for tutoring and what goals they hope will be accomplished by working with me.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I believe everyone has to discover for themselves how to learn independently, and I can only explain the process I've used and found success in when I was in school. It took me a while to figure out what methods work best, but by explaining my findings and even explaining how I came to those findings, I can surely make the journey smoother.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I like to set realistic, tangible goals so that, when I accomplish one, I can see that I'm making progress. Afterwards, I'll reward myself, but the feeling of success is addicting and the desire to feel successful again brings me back. I would help a student outline a similar methodology, or discover one that works just as well for them.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Try a different approach. If that approach fails, maybe I'll start over from the beginning, but I'll never give up (never surrender).