
Pat: Homestead tutor
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Arizona State University - Bachelors, Industrial Engineering
watching old movies, reading, riding my bicycle and working on cars
Algebra 3/4
Industrial Engineering
What is your teaching philosophy?
A good teacher doesn't show you what to look at but what to look for. I try to engage the analytic problem solving abilities of my students. Instead of a student looking at a problem as contrived and generic with a rigid set of procedures they need to follow, i.e. plug and chug, I get them to think deeply about what is given, what is desired and how to be able to explain it to anyone.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I first give them a related problem and see just how they go about trying to solve it on their own, and/or see what they have tried and where they are confused. I look at what their teachers at school have introduced and covered, handouts, notes, hw, etc. I ask what methods and ideas they are familiar with and try to stick with those as not to overwhelm at first.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
By instilling analytical problem solving skills. To make a strong web between various topics and ideas, and not become reliant on step-by-step procedures or that problems should fit a certain preconceived example.