Katy
Certified Tutor
My approach to tutoring stems from my own experiences as a learner: I understand that failing to grasp a concept can be frustrating in and of itself, and I will take the time to explain it as many different ways as the student needs. Asking for help is not indicative of stupidity or weakness, nor is failing to comprehend a topic the first time it is broached. I work with students to help them determine the learning style that works best for them.
I have never been a fan of memorizing facts, so whenever possible I like to tackle concepts in a manner that will explain the “why.” In my own learning I find I can grasp issues better by breaking them up into small, manageable steps and concepts, so this is what I strive for in helping others as well. I find this approach tends to lead to a deeper understanding so students are able to recognize and navigate similar topics in the future rather than merely the problem at hand.
Along similar lines, I like to connect topics to the real world and other areas the student has more experience with or is enthusiastic about. In math especially the abstract nature of many concepts can disillusion students early on in the learning process, and bringing those ideas back to the student's world can make them more accessible and easier to utilize.
All in all, I love learning and derive a great sense of accomplishment from mastering a new topic, and to the greatest degree possible I strive to pass that on to my students.
Connect with a tutor like Katy
Undergraduate Degree: Lewis & Clark College - Bachelors, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- ACT Composite: 32
- ACT Math: 34
- ACT Reading: 33
- ACT Science: 31
Soccer, ceramics, painting, running, hiking, reading, playing with my dog
- ACT Prep
- ACT English
- ACT Math
- ACT Reading
- ACT Science
- ACT Writing
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- Algebra 3/4
- Biology
- Chemistry
- College Algebra
- College Biology
- College Chemistry
- High School Biology
- High School Chemistry
- IB Biology
- IB Biology HL
- IB Biology SL
- IB Chemistry
- IB Chemistry HL
- IB Chemistry SL
- Math
- Pre-Algebra
- Science
- Test Prep
What is your teaching philosophy?
My approach to tutoring stems from my own experiences as a learner: I understand that failing to grasp a concept can be frustrating in and of itself, and I will take the time to explain it as many different ways as the student needs. Asking for help is not indicative of stupidity or weakness, nor is failing to comprehend a topic the first time it is broached. I work with students to help them determine the learning style that works best for them.
I've never been a fan of memorizing facts, so whenever possible, I like to tackle concepts in a manner that will explain the "why." In my own learning, I find I can grasp issues better by breaking them up into small, manageable steps and concepts, so this is what I strive for in helping others as well. I find this approach tends to lead to a deeper understanding so students are able to recognize and navigate similar topics in the future rather than merely the problem at hand.
Along similar lines, I like to connect topics to the real world and other areas the student has more experience with or is enthusiastic about. In math especially, the abstract nature of many concepts can disillusion students early on in the learning process, and bringing those ideas back to the student's world can make them more accessible and easier to utilize.
All in all, I love learning and derive a great sense of accomplishment from mastering a new topic, and to the greatest degree possible, I strive to pass that on to my students.