Jeffrey
Certified Tutor
I am currently a student at the College of Natural Science and Mathematics at the University of Houston working towards my Geophysics degree. At first, I wanted to become a cellist and really desired to be the best; however, that soon changed when I found my passion for rocks, literally. Playing the cello requires precision, patience, and discipline and that has been integrated into my regular studies. While I do tutor many subjects, I am most invested in Mathematics. I highly believe that practice and repetition is key to one's success in academia. My philosophy is this: just like how a house needs a good foundation to stand over the course of time, so does one's skill in mathematics. My tutoring style is proving to the students how EASY each problem can be and that there is no need to panic. I developed this mentality whilst tutoring middle aged men and women who were going back to university to pursue a degree.
Outside of tutoring, I like to play some video games with friends, play the cello, and occasionally play tennis.
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Undergraduate Degree:University of Houston- Current Undergrad, Geophysics
- ACT Composite: 31
- ACT Math: 34
- ACT Reading: 31
- ACT Science: 31
Cello, singing, all things musical
What is your teaching philosophy?
My philosophy is this: just like how a house needs a good foundation to stand over the course of time, so does one’s skill in mathematics.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In the first session, I would like to get to know the student and gauge his or her ability through their homework and test scores.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Help the student realize that independent practice will bring about amazing results.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
No matter what happens, you can always do better.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Practice until it’s automatic.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Read each sentence, cover it, and ask yourself, "Why did the author say this?" It really helps!
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
The strategy that works the best is always working from the ground up and gauging where the problem lies.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Remember, every question is easy once the steps are figured out. It’s a matter of work.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Increasing the amount of difficulty per problem until a perfect understanding is achieved.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
For math subjects, prove to the student that he or she can solve the problems through sheer practice and determination.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
The student's needs are found (for math subjects) --the holes they have in their foundations-- and we fill up those holes.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
By the speed the student understands the problem, not solves it.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
The textbook, online materials, and any source that has a ton of questions to work on.