Justin
Certified Tutor
I have seven years of classroom teaching experience (two in middle school and five in high school). My greatest strength as an instructor is the ability to break difficult concepts down into simple pieces, and to explain them in logical step-by-step patterns. All tasks, big or small, and regardless of the subject, can be managed successfully when there is a well thought-out plan of attack. As your tutor I develop these types of plans, and teach you how to ultimately create plans for yourself.
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Undergraduate Degree: Pepperdine University - Bachelor in Arts, Journalism
Sifting through record shops and soundcloud, watching and playing basketball
- AP Comparative Government and Politics
- AP European History
- AP Human Geography
- AP U.S. Government & Politics
- AP United States History
- AP US History
- AP World History
- College Geography
- College Level American History
- College World History
- European History
- Geography
- Gifted
- Graduate Test Prep
- GRE Verbal
- High School Geography
- High School Level American History
- High School World History
- History
- Homework Support
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Other
- Pre-Algebra
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
- Social Studies
- Sociology
- Special Education
- STAAR Prep
- STAAR EOC Prep
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Test Prep
- US History
- World History
- World Religions
What is your teaching philosophy?
I always hope to engender curiosity within my students. When they are curious, they will seek knowledge for themselves. When they are blocked, that's where I come in.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Determine their comfort with the subject matter by getting them to teach me something related.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Periodically scale back to the basics, to never go too long without experiencing success.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Approach the concept from different angles of instruction.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Slow down and break things down step-by-step.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Relatable anecdotes!!!
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Relatable anecdotes!! Everyone loves good stories.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Have them explain and demonstrate. Once you can teach something, you've got it.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Never go too long without success. Perhaps that means scaling back every few minutes, and hitting some basic concepts.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Open lines of communication, and rely on seven years of classroom teaching experience.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Listen and observe, and then be flexible to change approaches.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I draw lots of pictures, even in social sciences, so I'd use lots of paper and pens. Internet access too--for visuals.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Do not simply provide answers, but engender curiosity. Make it fun. Tell elaborate stories. Give opportunities for growth, but also successes.