Kenneth
Certified Tutor
My name is Kenneth; many people call me Kenny. I have always had a passion for Education. Once I graduated from Oswego State University with my Bachelor's, I have worked as a substitute teacher, teen travel counselor, tutor, and teacher assistant with Head Start. Tutoring has always brought me joy and that is why I continue to do it now. For the past two years, I worked as a tutor who provided instruction in Math. Even though my background primarily deals with elementary-aged students, I have worked with older students as well. As a field practicum student and student teacher, I saw how many students struggle with Math and are taught to memorize rather than understand a topic/concept. That is why as a tutor, I take my job seriously and understand the importance of helping our students strive for excellence.
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Undergraduate Degree: SUNY College at Oswego - Bachelors, Childhood Education
Traveling, Film (i.e. Going to the movies), Leisure Reading, Cooking, Teaching Abroad, and Furthering my education as teacher/tutor
- Algebra
- Elementary School Math
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Pre-Algebra
What is your teaching philosophy?
My philosophy on teaching is that learning needs to cater and appeal to all students of different backgrounds and learning styles. Learning needs to be engaging and fun. The goal is to make students want to learn and master concepts, rather than just memorize formulas and/or strategies. That is why it is important to get to know your students and create lessons that are tailored to them, which is something that is crucial to how I effectively teach students.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
The first session will be a "Meet and Greet." During this time, I will talk with the students and/or parent(s) to know more about them. I want to see what areas the student is having difficulty in. From there, I will explain the techniques and strategies I will use that will benefit the student. It is also important for me to hear the expectations of the parents, and vice-versa, to make sure that the relationship is effective and beneficial.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
The way I can help a student become an independent learner is to make sure the student is comfortable with the material being taught. That is why is important to make sure students are understanding concepts rather than memorizing formulas and equations.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Some of the ways to make sure a student is motivated is by creating varied instruction. It is not enough to provide one method for instruction. Also, it is important to constantly provide positive feedback along with constructive feedback to make sure the student feels comfortable and proud to grasp difficult topics.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Some strategies I have found to be successful when starting to work with a student is providing homework help. By helping a student with homework upon first meeting with a student, it establishes a relationship where the student gets to know me as a tutor and what skills the student struggles with. Another strategy I use when I work with students is that I give practice quizzes and tests. I found this to be beneficial, because it reinforces learned concepts and addresses what concepts still need practice.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
During my session, I use a both written and online materials. I like students to have as much practice material as they need in order to address this skill or concept. Along with my own handouts and text resources, I work with materials the student has, because there are instances where students feel comfortable using their textbook or teacher handouts.