Dr. Frank
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: University of Maryland-University College - Bachelors, Biotechnology
Graduate Degree: Walden University - PHD, Business Administration and Management
Community service, sports and hunting
Arabic
Biotechnology
Business
Business Analytics
Business Ethics
Business Writing
College Application Essays
College Economics
High School Business
Managerial Accounting
Other
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that each person is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring, and stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. It is my desire as an educator to help students meet their fullest potential in these areas by providing an environment that is safe, supports risk-taking, and invites a sharing of ideas. There are three elements that I believe are conducive to establishing such an environment, (1) the educator acting as a guide, (2) allowing the student's natural curiosity to direct his/her learning, and (3) promoting respect for all things and all people. When the educator's role is to guide, providing access to information rather than acting as the primary source of information, the students' search for knowledge is met as they learn to find answers to their questions. For students to construct knowledge, they need the opportunity to discover for themselves and practice skills in authentic situations. Providing students access to hands-on activities and allowing adequate time and space to use materials that reinforce the lesson being studied creates an opportunity for individual discovery and construction of knowledge to occur. Equally important to self-discovery is having the opportunity to study things that are meaningful and relevant to one's life and interests. Developing a curriculum around student interests fosters intrinsic motivation and stimulates the passion to learn. One way to take learning in a direction relevant to student interest is to invite student dialogue about the lessons and units of study. Given the opportunity for input, students generate ideas and set goals that make for much richer activities than I could have created or imagined myself. When students have ownership in the curriculum, they are motivated to work hard and master the skills necessary to reach their goals. Helping students to develop a deep love and respect for themselves, others, and their environment occurs through an open sharing of ideas and a sensible approach to discipline. When the voice of each student is heard, and environment evolves where students feel free to express themselves. Class meetings are one way to encourage such dialogue. I believe children have greater respect for their teachers, their peers, and the lessons presented when they feel safe and sure of what is expected of them. In setting fair and consistent rules initially and stating the importance of every activity, students are shown respect for their presence and time. In turn, they learn to respect themselves, others, and their environment. For myself, teaching provides an opportunity for continual learning and growth. One of my hopes as an educator is to instill a love of learning in my students, as I share my passion for learning with them. I feel there is a need for compassionate, strong, and dedicated individuals who are excited about working with children. In our competitive society, it is important for students to not only receive a solid education but to work with someone who is aware of and sensitive to their individual needs. I am such a person and will always strive to be the best educator that I can be.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
The typical first session with a student will include: -Getting to know the student and expectations: I will ask about the student's learning style. Does the student learn better by seeing, reading, doing or listening? I will ask about the expectation and the area of concern. Doing this will help me to assess the student's needs, weaknesses, and strengths, and then build a learning plan around those strengths and requirements. -Determine the student's knowledge: I will ask questions to determine the student's level of understanding of the subject and connect it to their grade level. Then I will create a personalized work plan for getting the students where they need to be. -Make a positive impression: I want to make the students feels comfortable and learn about what motivates them. This process is about finding their interests and incorporating them into their course work. -Collaborate with the student on a plan of action: Finally, I will incorporate the students into the lesson planning, so they become a part of their learning process.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I will let the student do the work through giving him control of the process; I will encourage active learning and increase the student's self-confidence. Part of the learning process is to make someone know what is incorrect and teach him how to correct it. I want to teach the student to do the work and guide him through the process by encouraging the independency of solving the problems and the analytical thinking.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
To help a student stay motivated, I will: -Give the student a sense of control. -Define the objectives of the assignments to increase the awareness level of the expectations. -Praise the success for well-done assignments. -Create an atmosphere of excitement about the study material. -Relate the study material to the student points of interests. -Manage the student anxiety due to the prospect of not doing well by offering support and ensuring that students do not feel overwhelmed by expectations that they just give up. -Keep the goals high but attainable. -Give a timely feedback and keep track with progress.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, I will: -Identify the struggling area. -Try a new approach to introducing the information. -Use different teaching styles to help them grasp the concepts.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
To help students who are struggling with reading comprehension I need to know why and where they struggle. I will give low-tech, highly efficient verbal feedback during our discussion and encourage the students to ask questions.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
The most successful strategies to utilize while working with a student are: -Using different learning styles. -Posting directions, keeping homework short, and allow for changes. -Using homework reminders, planners, and assignment charts. -Setting reasonable goals and checking on student progress. -Using shorter tests or oral testing. -Asking for a quiet place to work with the student.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
To build a student's confidence in a subject I will: -Provide positive feedback when appropriate. -Give a genuine praise. -Set realistic goals for each student. -Use specific teaching strategies for every student. -Create an open, positive environment for learning. -Show enthusiasm for the subject and for the student's success.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
To evaluate a student's needs, it is important to look at a variety of assessment information such as: -Academic achievement. -Interests, preferences. -Social skills. -Learning styles. -Daily living skills. -Employment-related skills. The second step: I will use quizzes to gauge a student's prior knowledge, assess progress midway through a unit, clear up misconceptions, and drive home the point of how much they will learn.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
To adapt my tutoring to the student's needs I will use two strategies: Strategy one (Before the tutoring session): -State the objective, providing a reason for listening -Provide study guides/worksheets -Provide lecture outlines Strategy two (During the tutoring session): -Have the student take notes -Give explanations in small, distinct steps -Provide written as well as oral directions -Have the student repeat directions -Provide written and manipulative tasks
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
The type of materials that I typically use during a tutoring session are: -Subject material sheet or outline -My computer is only used to show examples I've created beforehand -Reference books or any textbooks relevant to the lesson
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
The techniques that I use to be sure that a student understands the material are: -Avoid yes or no questions, instead, I will ask open-ended questions. -Ask students to reflect on what they have learned. -Use quizzes. -Ask students to summarize or paraphrase important concepts and lessons. -Formative pencil-paper assessment of skills and knowledge taught in the lesson. -Practice frequency to check for understanding at least three times a lesson.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
To help a student avoid struggling and get excited/engaged with the subject, I will: -Connect the teaching subject to real life -Use students' interests and fascinations -Give students choices -Present information in multiple formats -Teach students self-monitoring skills