Clinton
Certified Tutor
I have been a volunteer tutor and tennis and life skills instructor for the past 10 years. I have worked youth and adult of all ages and have achieved success with every age group I have worked with. I love sharing my knowledge with people in a fun and engaging way. I love explaining topics through a variety of interactive and interesting methods. My favorite thing about tutoring is helping people understand why what they are learning is important. Once you know why you learn something you are much more inclined to focus and challenge yourself with it. I believe education is vital in the world today but more importantly having a desire and wanting to learn is significantly more important. I make it my goal to encourage students to become independent learners.
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Undergraduate Degree: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Current Undergrad, Biology, General
Graduate Degree: Albany Medical College - PHD, Molecular and Cellular Physiology
Tennis, Reading, Basketball, Hiking, Mountain Climbing, Sports and Movies
- 10th Grade
- 10th Grade Writing
- 11th Grade Writing
- 12th Grade Writing
- 1st Grade
- 1st Grade Math
- 1st Grade Reading
- 1st Grade Writing
- 2nd Grade
- 2nd Grade Math
- 2nd Grade Reading
- 2nd Grade Writing
- 3rd Grade
- 3rd Grade Math
- 3rd Grade Reading
- 3rd Grade Science
- 3rd Grade Writing
- 4th Grade
- 4th Grade Math
- 4th Grade Reading
- 4th Grade Science
- 4th Grade Writing
- 5th Grade
- 5th Grade Math
- 5th Grade Reading
- 5th Grade Science
- 5th Grade Writing
- 6th Grade
- 6th Grade Math
- 6th Grade Reading
- 6th Grade Science
- 6th Grade Writing
- 7th Grade
- 7th Grade Math
- 7th Grade Reading
- 7th Grade Science
- 7th Grade Writing
- 8th Grade
- 8th Grade Math
- 8th Grade Reading
- 8th Grade Science
- 8th Grade Writing
- 9th Grade
- 9th Grade Math
- 9th Grade Reading
- 9th Grade Writing
- Adult Literacy
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- AP Biology
- AP European History
- AP United States History
- AP US History
- Biology
- Cell Biology
- College Algebra
- College Biology
- College English
- College Essays
- College Level American History
- College Math
- Developmental Biology
- Elementary Math
- Elementary School
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Science
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- Essay Editing
- European History
- Evolution
- General Biology
- Geometry
- High School
- High School Biology
- High School Chemistry
- High School English
- High School Level American History
- High School Writing
- History
- Intermediate Algebra
- Life Sciences
- Math
- Microbiology
- Middle School
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Science
- Middle School Writing
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Test Prep
- US History
- World Literature
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe the best way to teach is to make the subject fun and simple. I like to incorporate a wide variety of activities diagrams and videos to further elaborate on complex topics. At the end of the day I want the students have fun learning the subject, so when they go to test they do not fear and they succeed confidently.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Depending on the subject I would have a small assessment or a brief conversation with the student to grasp his or her level of comprehension of the given topic. After I would go right into assisting the student on his or her various weaknesses.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
The best way to help a student become independent is to help them motivate themselves and build their confidence in a given student. If I can help a student enjoy a subject they would more likely go and practice that subject once they get home.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I think the best way to motivate is through setting realistic goals and positive encouragement. I also believe celebrating significant successes is key to the long-standing morale of a student.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would try multiple ways to address a specific difficulty depending on his or her style of learning. Whether it be visual, verbal or hands on, I will introduce my students to various styles of learning and understanding.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I would address reading comprehension issues by helping them break down the sentence and work with what they know, rather than telling them what they do not know. I would then fill in blanks that they are unable to understand. Reading comprehension is tricky depending on the subject. If it is a math word problem, I would help students isolate the math from the words. If it is with a history, biology or English class, I would focus on the understanding of the language and vocabulary used.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I have learned that the quicker you can make a student comfortable with working with you and with the specific subject, goals are much more easily achieved. Often times students are afraid of a subject or are proud to ask for help, but once you make them feel comfortable and in a judgement free zone I think they respond well and work hard, not just for themselves but also the positive encouragement a tutor can provide along the way.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would try to relate the topic or subject to something they love or something that excited them. I love tennis, so I liked relating all the subjects that I learned to tennis.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I would use engaging assessments to be sure that the student has understood the material. I would also have the student "mock teach" me. If they teach it to me back, then I know I have succeeded in helping them master the topic.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I would build a student's confidence by helping them achieve easy "wins." I would start off with simpler question types, then progressively make them more difficult, but in between these intervals of difficulty I would insert questions of easier difficulty to maintain morale.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I evaluate a student's needs through prior assessments as well as my own personal assessments. The most important evaluation tool is speaking with the student and getting a feel for their determination and dedication for success. If they want to be better they will become better. Success is 100% effort.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I adapt to the student’s needs in a wide variety of ways. If they are visual learners, I would present them with more pictures and interactive activities. If they are more auditory, I would explain topics clearly and concisely.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I use a wide variety of props depending on the subject. I cater these props to that of the likes of the student. For example a student liked bugs, so we used toy bugs to work on some math concepts.