Taylor
Certified Tutor
I am highly motivated, enthusiastic, and passionate about learning and teaching mathematics. I attend California State University, Northridge as a (Secondary) Education Mathematics major while competing as division one athlete in Track and Field. Being an athlete has instilled in me, the drive to succeed in every circumstance. I have worked with many students of all ages and was able to inspire them to strive to be successful in and out of the classroom. While working with students at Granada Hills Charter High School, I would hear my kids say the same thing when attempting to help them- which was either "I'm confused" or "I don't know". My goal as a math teacher is to get you to stop saying "I'm confused" and "I don't know", because I believe every one is capable of achieving if they put the work and time into their courses. My strong suits in Math are Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, and Trigonometry.
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Undergraduate Degree: California State University-Northridge - Bachelors, Education Mathematics (Secondary)
Sports, Track and Field
What is your teaching philosophy?
I want my students to stop focusing so much on 'the answer,' and focus more on how you arrive to the answer and the mathematics behind it.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I want to be able to learn about my students before we start covering material. I want to know their interests and hobbies so I can apply lessons to real-life scenarios. That way I can build their trust and make learning a positive, safe environment for them.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
By the end of each session, I will challenge my students to go over some concepts to explain to me in the next session. If they can learn the mathematical material, then they can become an independent learner.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I would never give up on my student. If you can show that you will never quit on a student, then they will also stay motivated.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Try to vary the lesson by maybe making it more visual. Attacking the problem from a different angle sometimes helps.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I would make them flashcards for key words they would want to remember. Also I would use outlines, maps and notes for when they read.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Grabbing their attention on something they are really interested in. Try to make them feel like they can relate to you first before you go over the lesson.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would let my students have a sense of control. While guidance from a teacher is important to keeping kids on task and motivated, allowing students to have some control over what happens in the classroom is the best way to keep the student engaged.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I would keep checking for understanding. The more I can get the student to explain to me what they know, the better.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Multiple repetitions with varying the lesson. Also, if I can get the student to fully explain how the math topic is understood, then I can get that student to be confident.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Formative assessment techniques monitor student learning during the learning process. I can identify the student’s needs through these techniques.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I would see where the student is struggling the most, and then adapt my lesson around those needs.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Pencil, paper, whiteboard if necessary, textbooks.