Caitlyn
Certified Tutor
I attended Oregon State University, where I received bachelors degrees in biology and botany. I also earned my certification as a Wilderness First Responder while living in Corvallis.
Since graduating, I've been working as teacher, helping elementary- and middle-school-aged children in all subjects. I've also tutored at the college level, focusing primarily on essay writing. Through all of my experiences, my favorite subjects have been early-level science and upper-level writing. I'm a strong believer that education can be fun, and address learning with a sense of humor and a positive attitude. My approach to learning tends to be very communication-based, and often driven by how the client I'm working with feels they learn best. As a result, I tend to provide structure and guidance in a more flexible learning environment.
When I'm not helping to educate others, I am working on my wicked dance skills and improving my fluency in German. I'm a bit of a glutton for new information, so I spend a lot of time reading and picking up diverse skills, like archery and basic auto maintenance. I also love spending time outdoors in any capacity, especially hiking and camping; one of my long-term goals is to visit all 59 of the US's national parks!
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Undergraduate Degree:Oregon State University- Bachelors, Biology, Botany
- ACT Composite: 33
- ACT English: 36
- ACT Math: 33
- ACT Reading: 34
- SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1530
- SAT Math: 730
- SAT Verbal: 800
- SAT Writing: 700
Making things with my hands, outdoor exploration, plant and fungi identification
- ACT Writing
- Algebra
- Arithmetic
- College English
- Elementary Math
- Elementary School Math
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Essay Editing
- High School English
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Other
- Pre-Algebra
- Public Speaking
- Reading
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Summer
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
Most of my students learn best when they're having a good time. As a result, I believe it's really important to make learning an upbeat, interesting activity. I do this by establishing a strong rapport, tailoring tutoring sessions to the individual interests of my clients, and giving them real-life examples that apply each lesson to things they already know and enjoy. As a result, my students learn more enthusiastically and their lessons stick with them - popping back into their mind when those everyday examples actually occur in everyday life.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I often like to spend some time talking - both about what the student personally hopes to get help with, and just about their personal interests. (I often use these hobbies/interests to help develop lesson plans that are "more than just math/reading/etc.") Generally, I will also do a quick survey of the subject(s) to get a baseline for what the student already knows well and what they need additional focus on so that future tutoring sessions can be streamlined to fit that student's personal needs.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
When first introducing a new topic, it is important to walk the student through the process. However, I quickly use conversation to transition to the student walking me through the steps of the problem and, once I know they have the method down, then it's just a matter of building self-confidence in their own abilities!