Melissa: Sussex County tutor
Certified Tutor
I am a Jacksonville native and graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. I plan to return to UNF to obtain my Masters Degree within the next two years in my quest toward my CPA certification. My favorite part about tutoring is the ???AHA!??? moment- the moment when it all finally comes together and a student understands. I can physically see on a student???s face when this happens and the excitement of it all finally making sense. When I tutor, I work diligently with a student to strive for as many ???AHA!??? moments as possible. Everyone learns differently and different things make sense for different individuals. In order to be a great tutor, you have to learn what makes sense for each individual. It is my job to find the right language to communicate in so that the information makes sense. Whether it is through hands-on-learning, visual props, or by simply listening and asking question, I can accommodate any student and their learning style. I believe that learning is understanding the material- not just memorizing it. I take it as a personal challenge to try and find the best method of understanding for each student and tailor my tutoring for each individual.
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Undergraduate Degree: University of North Florida - Bachelors, Accounting
I love to curl up with a nice, warm blanket in a dark room and watch a good movie. I enjoy going outside and being active. For example, I like going for long bike rides, adventurous walks, or exploring one of Jacksonville’s many public parks. I also try to go to an amusement park 3 or 4 times year- Wild Adventures, Sea World, Islands of Adventure, you name it and I am there!
- Accounting
- Algebra
- Biology
- Business
- Chemistry
- College Accounting
- College Biology
- College Business
- Cost Accounting
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- High School Accounting
- High School Biology
- High School Business
- High School Chemistry
- High School English
- High School Writing
- Languages
- Managerial Accounting
- Math
- Microbiology
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- Middle School Science
- Middle School Writing
- Other
- Pre-Algebra
- Public Speaking
- Science
- Spanish
- Spanish 1
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
What is your teaching philosophy?
I do whatever it takes to ensure that each student understands the material and doesn't just memorize it. Memorized data is only stored in the short-term memory for so long, making it difficult to recall later during a final or a midterm. Understanding is key.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
During my first session with a student, I like to dive right into the material and see where the student is struggling. I cannot begin to help a student until I fully understand what issues he or she may be having. I also try and get to know the student and figure out what makes him or her tick. This will allow me to tailor my teaching style to the individual for better understanding. Recognizing the problem from the beginning and finding the best way to communicate the information makes for more productive tutoring sessions.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
The skills I use during any tutoring session are very simple and easy. Any student can use them in an independent environment. Once the skills are learned, the student can use them at any given time for any given subject. It is my job as a tutor to figure out what works best for each student and then teach him or her to be self-sufficient. These skills are things that can even be applied to work-life in the future. We are all always learning, and it is important for everyone to know how to be able to process information. It is my goal to ensure the message will always be received.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I find that breaking something down to its bare bones is the best place to start. From there, you can add more information a little at a time. This way, you can see where exactly the confusion lies and correct the issue as you go. Before you know it, you have reached the desired level of understanding needed to do well on any test. With a good, solid base of understanding of any subject, any student can fully grasp any complex concept that will be thrown at them.