Eric: Belfast tutor
Certified Tutor
As a father, my children's education was incredibly important to me. Due to the below average school system where we lived, I decided to home school the both of them. Being involved with their education, and the education of a co-opt of other children was the most rewarding task I have ever undertaken. I understand the importance of truly engaging students, of understanding the various styles of learning for each individual, and acting not only as a teacher, but as a mentor. The true goal is to not only teach the student the materials in front of them but to engender a life-long love of learning. Teaching and polishing writing, from a beginning level to college is a specialty of mine, but I enjoy sharing and teaching all subjects to any ages.
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Graduate Degree: University of Virginia-Main Campus - Unknown, History & Economics
Reading (everything), hiking, kayaking, camping, ukulele
- 1st Grade
- 1st Grade Writing
- 2nd Grade
- 2nd Grade Writing
- 3rd Grade
- 3rd Grade Writing
- 4th Grade
- 4th Grade Writing
- 5th Grade
- 5th Grade Math
- 5th Grade Writing
- 6th Grade
- 6th Grade Math
- 6th Grade Reading
- 6th Grade Writing
- 7th Grade
- 7th Grade Math
- 7th Grade Reading
- 7th Grade Writing
- 8th Grade
- 8th Grade Math
- 8th Grade Reading
- 8th Grade Writing
- Algebra
- Arithmetic
- Business
- College Business
- College Economics
- College English
- College Essays
- Economics
- Elementary Algebra
- Elementary School
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- Essay Editing
- High School Business
- High School Economics
- High School English
- Homeschool
- Homework Support
- Microeconomics
- Middle School
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Writing
- Other
- Pre-Algebra
- Public Speaking
- Reading
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Summer
- Vocabulary
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
Through over 9 years of homeschooling and tutoring, I have found that my greatest asset is the ability to recognize and adapt to a student's different learning styles, which can vary between and even within different subject matters.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
The establishment of trust and defining the tutor-student relationship are extremely important. Beginning to assess the student's abilities and styles of learning through open-ended questions that draw them into the process is key. They must be invested in the relationship and believe that I am also invested in it. They must also be willing to work towards their desired outcomes.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
Identifying the roadblocks to independent learning is the key. Once recognized, I offer strategies and skills to overcome these difficulties and use small independent assignments to reinforce positive results.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Benchmarking progress (either on paper or verbally) allows us, as a team, to look back and track progress towards educational goals. Recognizing successes and identifying and resolving setbacks in a steady loop of feedback ensure that the student will appreciate their forward progress and be motivated by their success.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
It all comes down to learning styles. There are a large variety of methods to present any concept. Videos, stories, real world examples, and having the student attempt to "teach" the concept to the tutor are methods that can be used when roadblocks are met. A careful assessment of the base concepts leading up to the trouble areas is also important in identifying issues and creating alternative solutions.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
A focus on vocabulary, out-loud reading, and student verbal summaries of small sections of text will often help identify the issues creating comprehension problems. Asking students to "retell" sections of the text in their own words and open-ended questions regarding the text will often help them take the time and effort necessary to improve this skill.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
The student must trust that you are there for more than a paycheck, that you are invested in their success. Taking the time to get to know them and how they feel about any issues they are having helps to develop this trust. Always, take one step back in the subject to insure that base level skills are present and to allow the student initial academic success with the new tutor.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
By understanding the student, you can often show the real-world importance of a student's trouble area. Understanding modern popular culture and finding links between the subject area and student's interests is key. Identifying a method for the student to find some initial success in the problem area is also important.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
A constant 360 degree loop of feedback between the tutor and the student reinforces successes and allows the tutor to constantly assess the student's comprehension of the material. Written quizzes and/or verbal assessments allow the teacher to constantly refine the teaching technique for each subject as well as provide positive feedback for the student.