Lawrence: Bellwood tutor
Certified Tutor
My belief is that true learning happens when it is enjoyable. My mission as a prospective New York City teacher is to do my part in making sure the information my students receive is done so in a way that is manageable and fun. When my students show interest and progress in the content being taught, I will know I have done my job.
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Undergraduate Degree: Amherst College - Bachelors, Neuroscience
Graduate Degree: CUNY Brooklyn College - Current Grad Student, Master of Arts in Teaching
- ACT Composite: 32
- ACT English: 31
- ACT Math: 35
- ACT Reading: 32
- SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1490
- SAT Math: 750
- SAT Verbal: 700
- SAT Writing: 700
Track and Field, Anime, Isshinryu Karate, Choral Music, Piano
- ACT Prep
- ACT English
- ACT Math
- ACT Reading
- ACT Science
- ACT Writing
- Algebra
- Biology
- College Application Essays
- Geometry
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Science
- Neuroscience
- Other
- Pre-Algebra
- REGENTS Prep
- SAT Reading
- SAT Subject Test in Physics
- SAT Subject Tests Prep
- Science
- SHSAT Prep
- Test Prep
- Trigonometry
What is your teaching philosophy?
To help a student build confidence in a subject, I break the topics down into smaller bits so that every problem solved or concept understood is an achievement which I recognize wholeheartedly. By starting small and building on what the student already knows, I can help them gain confidence in their ability to slowly but surely understand the subject.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I will introduce myself, talk about my educational background, and then ask my student what kind of help or understanding they need in their studies.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I will provide personalized studying tips based on the student's past experiences with studying. I will also suggest a list of websites and other resources where they can learn more about their subjects of interest.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I will impart to my students personal anecdotes and real-life examples about the very real correlation between perseverance and success; they should reveal just how important a good education is for one's prospects.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
If a student has difficulty with a task, I would attempt to scaffold the lesson by breaking it apart into smaller bits, starting with what the student knows, and relating that to the task. Oftentimes, by compartmentalizing a complex skill or concept into its fundamental parts, it makes learning much more palatable.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
For students struggling with reading comprehension, I help them break apart the reading into groups of related sentences or ideas and then work alongside them through the text so they slowly learn how to navigate through it themselves. My best strategy for achieving reading comprehension is to coach them on how to use context clues effectively and other portions of the text they do understand to elucidate whatever is unclear.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I find that forming a good rapport with the student and learning how they study best through casual conversation is most effective at setting the foundation for a great tutoring and mentoring experience. If I understand how the student enjoys learning, I can modify my lesson plans to fit that learning style and make the time we spend together more valuable.