Christiana
Certified Tutor
I am currently in the 4th year of the PhD portion of my MD/PhD at Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio. I currently study Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) using voltage and current clamp electrophysiology techniques. Before starting the PhD portion of my degree, I completed the first two years of medical school and passed the USMLE Step 1 (238) board examination. These two years included courses such as the following: Anatomy, Principles of Disease, Molecular Basis of Medicine, Cells & Tissues Organ Systems, Health Care in Developing Countries, Hematology, Medical Neuroscience, Clinical Decision Making, and Musculoskeletal and Integument. I have taken the following courses during my graduate education: Immunology, Neuroscience & Physiology, Research Ethics, and Neuron to Behavior Health and Disease. I attended Spelman College for my undergraduate degree in Psychology. I was a psychology/pre-medicine major while at Spelman. With that being said, I had to take all of the science requirements of that of a biology major, along with a couple of electives, such as Anatomy and Physiology and Biochemistry. In addition, I completed math up to the level of Calculus 2. I also took Physics: Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism. Overall, I graduated Spelman with a cumulative GPA of 3.88 and a science GPA of about 3.85. I graduated in the top ten percent of my class, with the Latin honors of Suma Cum Laude, and departmental honors.
I am the second oldest of seven children. I have tutored my siblings, peers, and other students of all ages, including my medical and graduate school peers. Many of my peers have denoted me to be a great teacher and an individual capable of explaining the most difficult things in the simplest of ways.
In my free time, I love kayaking, hiking, and swimming. If you're reading this, I look forward to working with you soon. And if you choose to go in a different direction, I hope you still dominate whatever course you're struggling with
Connect with a tutor like Christiana
Undergraduate Degree: Spelman College - Bachelors, Psychology
Graduate Degree: Wright State University-Main Campus - Current Grad Student, Doctorate of Medicine
Basketball, Kayaking, Hiking, Learning, Neuroscience.
- 10th Grade Math
- 11th Grade Math
- 9th Grade Math
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- Anatomy
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Biostatistics
- College Algebra
- Essay Editing
- ISEE Prep
- Math
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
- Pre-Calculus
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
What is your teaching philosophy?
Teach in a way that allows the student to learn best.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Typically, the first session would be focused on establishing a relationship with the student. This would involve learning who the student is, what they like to do, and most importantly, how they learn. I would listen to their concerns and develop an outline of how the tutoring sessions will go.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Encourage students to explain their understandings of problems and concepts. In addition, students can teach me concepts using their own words. Additionally, having students develop practice questions may be helpful too.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
By sharing my own struggles and rewarding students for the little steps and accomplishments.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
First, I would find out where the learning gap is for a skill or concept and address it head on by explaining it a simpler way using a real-life application. Afterwards, I would work a few practice problems or few practice scenarios, then have the student work some, and then have the student explain the concept to me in their own words.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Be patient and take the time to help the student develop his/her reading skills by starting out with simple things and moving to more advanced reading. Students would also be assigned readings to do everyday.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Teaching the student using the best learning style for them, and having them explain concepts in their own words.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Have a student tell me what they plan to do when they grow up, and show them how this subject will make them better equipped to accomplish their goals.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Have the student do practice problems on their own and explain the concept or skill to me in their own words.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Encourage the student and be patient and kind to them, as they are learning a difficult concept or skill.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
By asking students specifically what they are struggling with, and engaging them in problems and scenarios that allow me to better gauge what they need from me.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Practice questions, videos, real-life scenarios and application.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
If I am teaching my student in such a way that is not beneficial to them, I would try a different approach. In addition, I would meet the student where they are in the learning process.