Paul
Certified Tutor
Having built up a highly successful career in people performance management, I realized that the field of education could benefit immensely from the application of solid business principles, strategies and tactics.
Since 2004 I have been actively providing a portfolio of individually tailored coaching, mentoring and tutoring services in both the educational and business skill domains. My main role is to facilitate true understanding of problem areas by breaking them down on a component basis. Leading by example, which my students follow, tends to quickly build confidence through engendering the all important , 'I CAN do this' attitude, a strong working partnership and solid sequential results.
Rigorous study along with my experience has given me through both empirical and theoretical research an up-to-date and in-depth focus on the analysis and diagnosis of a wide range of academic problems, insight into the generation of alternative solution strategies, their relevant feasibility and ultimately best-practice implementation.
I work with students on an international basis, ranging from age 6 years to 60 years. My average week involves direct face-to-face or online tutorials in the Dallas fort Worth area with online contact further afield, both within the U.S. and in Europe. I offer a high level of flexibility across the topics that I tutor. In the morning I could be tutoring STAAR/SSAT/SAT/ISEE Level Math, while later that day, I will be working with students across a variety of English components, spanning every test requirement from understanding synonyms through to tackling comprehension exercises and the writing of effective essays.
My business background presents the ideal credentials for another side to my profession. I am involved in the preparation of students for university/higher education entrance and for prospective employees applying to enter the world of work. I offer best-practice rsum preparation and interview experience.
My role as father to four university graduate daughters has helped to keep me grounded as I have watched their own careers flourish from four corners of the world.
I balance the exhilaration I derive from teaching with my passion for motor sports, incorporating the excitement and spills of Nascar with the sheer dynamics of Formula 1.
I am an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction titles. My childhood memories of picking up abook and simply losing myself in my own imagination as I journeyed with the characters is still with me today.
My ball game preference is rugby as the tactical implications of the game, in the way that possession is gained, intrigues me every time I watch a match.
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Undergraduate Degree: Queens University Belfast - Bachelors, International Economics
Graduate Degree: Open University - Masters, Strategic Management
Role as Dad to four university graduate daughters, my passion for motor sports, incorporating Nascar and Formula 1, reading of both fiction and non-fiction, rugby and foreign travel.
- College Economics
- English
- High School Economics
- ISEE Prep
- ISEE- Lower Level
- ISEE- Middle Level
- ISEE-Lower Level Mathematics Achievement
- ISEE-Lower Level Quantitative Reasoning
- ISEE-Lower Level Reading Comprehension
- ISEE-Lower Level Verbal Reasoning
- ISEE-Middle Level Mathematics Achievement
- ISEE-Middle Level Quantitative Reasoning
- ISEE-Middle Level Reading Comprehension
- ISEE-Middle Level Verbal Reasoning
- ISEE-Middle Level Writing
- ISEE-Upper Level Mathematics Achievement
- ISEE-Upper Level Quantitative Reasoning
- ISEE-Upper Level Reading Comprehension
- ISEE-Upper Level Verbal Reasoning
- ISEE-Upper Level Writing
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- Public Speaking
- SSAT Prep
- SSAT- Elementary Level
- SSAT- Middle Level
- SSAT- Upper Level
- Test Prep
What is your teaching philosophy?
To engender on a uniquely individual student basis an 'I CAN do this' attitude, through leading by example, building confidence, and developing strong working partnerships that deliver results on a timely basis.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would give an introduction and tell the student something about myself. Ask the student to give an introduction, ensuring that I employ effective listening. Establish a checklist of strengths, weaknesses, and requirements. Draw up an agreed program to build on the strengths and to tackle all areas of weakness. Allow time for feedback. Establish the scheduling and basic content of the next tutorial.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Through clearly showing the student that they have the ability to complete activities, thereby strongly building their confidence. Through the setting of a measured amount of homework to establish the student's willingness and ability to carry out set tasks on their own.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Through monitoring closely the student's progress, including through feedback. Where necessary, I would be prepared to introduce variety into the teaching methods and strategies to suit the requirements of the individual learner.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Break up the problem/concept into easier/smaller components, show completion by example, and then set further examples for the student to follow on an escalation of difficulty basis until the more difficult concept has been grasped.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Identification of the area of difficulty, encouragement of the student to broaden their reading, the use of a variety of reading strategies, the introduction of aids to word meanings/spellings, and through showing the student how to identify key words that link the questions to the passage.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
An effective introduction (two-way), analysis of strengths and weaknesses, displaying understanding, breaking problem areas down, showing by example, setting further examples for the student to follow, agreement of goals, and setting and monitoring objectives.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
By identifying the reason behind their lack of interest or enthusiasm, through making the subject appealing by linking it to their interests, e.g. angles through possibly golf/football, percentages through their favorite candy.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Through establishing their reading ability by asking them to read the material to me. By explanation of parts of the material that they don't understand. By setting reading goals that I will monitor and review with feedback and, if necessary, further corrective action.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Through explanation and example which they follow sequentially to build their confidence, thereby engendering an 'I can do this' attitude.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Through observation, eliciting their feedback, from monitoring, analysis and review of all performance objectives and goals set, and through results and reports from all external stakeholders e.g. the student's school.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Through clearly identifying the abilities and requirements of the student and devising study strategies that will keep the individual motivated and engaged throughout.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Textbooks, models, my own diagrams/charts/questions, a wide range of reading material from fiction and nonfiction sources, online articles, and real world examples.