Paula
Certified Tutor
As someone currently studying for the LSAT and preparing to go to graduate school, I can relate to the challenges of being a student. I graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2010 with a B.A. in Psychology and Communication Studies. I am extremely passionate about academics and learning; the value of each was inculcated into me at a very young age. I tutor a variety of subjects largely because I have so many areas of interests and have been privileged enough to pursue knowledge in those areas. I even enjoy tucking away "useless facts"...in fact, those very tidbits got me past the Jeopardy! Online Test and into the Contestant Audition!
If I've learned one thing throughout my academic career, it's that everyone learns differently. In my opinion, a great tutor knows how to meet a student where they are in their work and find
the specific and best way to help them achieve their goals. I have honed this skill over many years of tutoring many different types of students. Additionally, with me, a student will have
the benefit of working with someone who has been on their side of the table. I was tutored in Math both when I was younger and in college, and currently have a tutor for the LSAT. I actually
love being tutored, as I get the personalized attention that I need, as well as little tips and tricks that aren't necessarily taught to the larger class. I believe that having this experience as the
pupil allows me to be an even more effective tutor.
So, why do I tutor? As I mentioned above, I love knowledge. I love sharing knowledge. But most of all, I love helping students learn to love what they're doing. Frequently, when a student reaches the point with a tutor where they begin noticing that they are making progress, they begin really believing in their ability to do the work independently and they are more likely to be excited about their academics! Also, I know from experience that a good tutor is capable of helping a student through a specific subject or class; but, a great tutor can transform the way a student operates in all of their academic work and prepare them to be an even better student across the board. I strive for the latter as a tutor.
So that you can have a better idea of who I am, I will tell you a few non-academic things about myself. First and foremost, I have an undying love for Star Wars that began and has been
nurtured since I was eight. I own approximately 200 Expanded Universe books and comics, and far too much memorabilia. I also play professional ultimate frisbee. I've been playing since
college and they just formed women's pro teams this year, and yes, you read correctly, pro ultimate frisbee. In other words, I get paid (peanuts) to chase plastic. Other things I enjoy are
阅读一个伟大的谜,观看Netflix,玩耍Xbox, riding horses, playing with my massive dog, and staying in shape!
Connect with a tutor like Paula
Undergraduate Degree:Vanderbilt University- Bachelor in Arts, Psychology; Communication Studies
- ACT Composite: 32
- ACT English: 34
- ACT Reading: 33
- ACT Science: 33
- SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1520
- SAT Verbal: 800
- SAT Writing: 740
Piano, French, Spanish, Jeopardy!, Horseback Riding, and Ultimate Frisbee
- 10th Grade Reading
- 10th Grade Writing
- 11th Grade Reading
- 11th Grade Writing
- 12th Grade Reading
- 12th Grade Writing
- 1st Grade
- 1st Grade Reading
- 1st Grade Writing
- 2nd Grade
- 2nd Grade Math
- 2nd Grade Reading
- 2nd Grade Writing
- 3rd Grade
- 3rd Grade Math
- 三年级阅读
- 3rd Grade Science
- 3rd Grade Writing
- 4th Grade
- 4th Grade Math
- 4th Grade Reading
- 4th Grade Science
- 4th Grade Writing
- 5th Grade
- 5th Grade Math
- 5th Grade Reading
- 5th Grade Science
- 5th Grade Writing
- 6th Grade
- 6th Grade Math
- 6th Grade Reading
- 6th Grade Science
- 6th Grade Writing
- 7th Grade
- 7th Grade Math
- 7th Grade Reading
- 7th Grade Science
- 7th Grade Writing
- 8th Grade
- 8th Grade Math
- 8th Grade Reading
- 8th Grade Science
- 8th Grade Writing
- 9th Grade Reading
- 9th Grade Writing
- ACT Prep
- ACT English
- ACT Math
- ACT Reading
- ACT Science
- ACT with Writing
- Adult Literacy
- Advertising
- Algebra
- American Literature
- Anatomy & Physiology
- AP English Literature and Composition
- AP United States History
- AP US History
- AP World History
- Arithmetic
- Biology
- Business
- Chemistry
- College Application Essays
- College Business
- College English
- College Essays
- College Geography
- College Level American History
- College Level American Literature
- College World History
- Elementary Math
- Elementary School
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Science
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- ESL/ELL
- Essay Editing
- French 1
- French 2
- French 3
- Geography
- Geometry
- Gifted
- High School Biology
- High School Business
- High School Chemistry
- High School English
- High School Geography
- High School Level American History
- High School Level American Literature
- High School World History
- High School Writing
- History
- Homework Support
- Laboratory
- Languages
- Latin
- Latin 1
- Latin 2
- Latin 3
- Latin 4
- Math
- Middle School
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Science
- Middle School Writing
- Other
- Piano
- Pre-Algebra
- PSAT Writing Skills
- Psychology
- SAT Prep
- SAT Math
- SAT Reading
- SAT Writing and Language
- Science
- Social Sciences
- Social Studies
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Summer
- Test Prep
- US History
- Vocabulary
- World History
- World Literature
- World Religions
- Writing
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I like to start by building a relationship with the student. I'm there as an ally, someone to help them achieve, and they need to feel that I'm there to help with that.
I also use the first session to gauge their needs. I like to see their materials from the subjects in which they require tutoring, including the textbook and any assignments. This gives me the best understanding of both the student and their needs.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Staying motivated is tricky, no doubt about it. Did you know that if you actually offer a reward for reading to a child who likes reading, they may be less likely to continue reading at their own pace? Tricky, indeed.
One of the best ways to keep children motivated is to find out what excites them academically...do they love history? Offer to tell them a fun history story after they finish their math. And use that information! If they love history, then perhaps try explaining math concepts in a historical context, i.e., the apple and Isaac Newton.
What is your teaching philosophy?
每个人不同,学习和教学箍tegies have to be sensitive to this. Some people work best with physical or active representations of science concepts, while others respond best to simply reading the material. So, my teaching philosophy is to find how best the student learns and help them implement those strategies.
如何帮助一个学生成为一个独立的learner?
Independent learners are curious, self-motivated, organized, and critical thinkers. Not all students naturally fall into this category--for these students, helping them find what motivates them to become self-sufficient makes them an independent learner. Whether it be instilling better study skills so that they feel empowered or better relating the material to their lives so that they find it relevant, creating an independent learner requires finding what motivates the student.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
First, if a student has difficulty, I would try to understand where the difficulty came from. Is there a breakdown in the chain of understanding? If so, where? Once you know what the difficulty is, you are better prepared to find a solution that the student can comprehend. Oftentimes, it is a small piece of understanding, that when explained, unlocks the problem.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
At the outset, I seek to understand what subjects they are struggling with and where their difficulties lie. I also make sure that good study habits are instilled at the beginning of our work together, as these can help any student. Finally, I like to know what the student hopes to gain from being tutored!
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I think that the reason most of us become excited and engaged in a subject is because we find it to be of interest to us. Thus, the best way to help a student engage in a difficult subject is to find how it relates to them, make it pertinent to their lives, and they'll naturally want to know more. I also like to give little pieces of "insider information," or the background behind something that's not discussed in the materials, to help them feel that they have context and special knowledge.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I'm a firm believer in understanding, not just memorization. In testing understanding, it can be difficult for tutors because we know the correct answer and can fall into the trap of leading the student to it. Instead, I like to see what they can explain on their own and help them fill in the gaps.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
One way is to start by relating it to what they already know and by using simple examples that they can understand. This tells them they can both comprehend and complete the material at the outset. Goal setting is also important; people feel confident when they achieve. So set reasonable goals and achieve them with your student!
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
My tutoring style is very fluid--I like to understand the child's needs before we come up with a plan of action. Children struggle with different things in different ways, but as long as the tutor is aware of this and makes sure the student is comprehending, the partnership should be successful.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I would have them read me a few paragraphs, and then I would ask comprehension questions. They may have an issue because they read too quickly through the passage, or they may not understand what the comprehension questions are asking of them, etc. All of these can be corrected with hard work!
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Typically, I use the materials that the student uses. However, as in the case of Test Prep, additional material may be required. I actually have most of my textbooks from high school, as well as all the Test Prep books. Additionally, I use several websites to generate tutoring content.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
In short, a number of ways. For example, I would want to have a conversation with the parent and the child to understand what's going well, what isn't, why, etc. I also like to look at past work and see how they did, what they may have missed, and why. No matter what, it's very important to involve the student in their tutoring plan, as ultimately, they are the ones working through it.