Emily
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: University of Portland - Bachelors, Music
Violin, Hiking
Art
Audition Prep
Cell Biology
College Biology
College Chemistry
Composition
High School Biology
IB Music
Medical Terminology
Medicine
Music
Music Theory
Piano
Songwriting
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that the students ultimately guide my lessons. They know what they do and do not understand, and it is my job to help with the grey area that is not so easily understood. I like presenting solutions to problems in different ways in order to adapt to my student's individual learning style.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I may start by having the student give me a background on how they got to where they are in the problem, some solutions they have tried, and find where they are getting stuck. Then I like to develop practice problems to help master the problem they were having trouble with.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I am merely a guide. The student needs to show me their direction on their thought process, and I will steer them in the right direction.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I am a firm believer in trying, even if the student gets the problem incorrect. Then I like to backtrack to help the student find where they went wrong. I provide encouragement to motivate my students to master the subjects most difficult for them.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would suggest approaching the skill or concept from many different viewpoints. Everyone's learning style is different, and it is important to adapt teaching to the student's best way of learning.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Repetition is key. If a student is able to answer problems and explain how to come up with those answers on their own for a given problem set, then the student understands the material.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I adapt to how the student learns best. Some are visual learners, with me showing step-by-step how to do certain activities. Some are hands-on and need to try on their own and then use me as guidance. Some learn by visualizing problems into stories, etc.