Zachary: Belfast tutor
Certified Tutor
What makes me a great tutor is patience. If someone if coming to me to learn, I can explain the concepts to them as long as needed without getting frustrated. I want my students to learn! I teach virtually all high school subjects and below and am even open to teaching college curriculum courses if they fit my expertise.
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Undergraduate Degree: Stony Brook University - Bachelors, Health Science
Chess, frisbee, reading, psychology, statistics, business and finance.
- Algebra
- Arithmetic
- College English
- English
- High School English
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Reading
- REGENTS Prep
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Writing and Language
- SHSAT Prep
- SSAT Prep
- SSAT- Elementary Level
- TACHS Prep
- Test Prep
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is that the teacher and the student need patience for one another. Some topics are very difficult to grasp, and it's important that both the teacher and student can have the patience and will to march forward without yielding to frustration.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Introduce myself and then try to get an idea of where they are with the given subject.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
You help a student become an independent learner by allowing them to figure things out themselves when the time is right. In addition, it is important to prompt students to do research projects on their own time to find answers.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I always helped my students to stay motivated by being kind to them and reminding them why they are being tutored in the first place. I always try to help them remember their reasons for putting in their hard work.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Sometimes it's a good idea to let the student rest in my honest opinion. If the student is overwhelmed and can't learn something, it can sometimes create an emotional barrier as opposed to an intellectual one.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
The answer is honestly simple. Practice! Read, read, and read. Besides that obvious answer, it helps to direct your attention to the details of the story that matter. Breaking up paragraphs into bite size pieces always helps too.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
To establish a rapport with the student. When I was most empathetic to my student’s needs, I found I had the best results.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I would tell them the beauty of what they are learning. There is a power to knowledge, and whatever they are learning most likely will be useful to them one day.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
To focus on how they came to the answer. Rather, focusing more on the process and less on the outcome.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
You build a student’s confidence by starting small and easy so they don't feel like they can't do it.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Testing, getting to know the student, report cards, parental input, etc.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
You have to get to know the student and try to figure out what makes them "tick." Every student is different, and you need to try to figure out which strategy works best. Some students do better when they have some breaks and talk. Some students do better without interruption. It all depends on the individual.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
That entirely depends on what subject you are teaching. Sometimes it's necessary to use a calculator. Sometimes you need a protractor. Naturally, pen and paper is always king.