Daniel Y.

My ultimate objective is that my students longer need a tutor’s help in ANY discipline. To achieve that goal, I do these things: TEACH BY ASKING QUESTIONS. I know that the last response a student wants to hear to their question is another question, but I promise that guiding a student to answer their own question is MUCH more effective than me just telling them the answer. Asking questions tells me how much the student knows, tells the student how much they know, and gets the student to understand the process, not just memorize the answer. However, I know that there are some questions where the most helpful answer is simply the answer! If a student asks me what DNA stands for, I’m not going to make them guess until they say “deoxyribonucleic acid.” ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO MAKE THEIR OWN STUDY MATERIALS. No matter how many times a student reads their notes, they won’t master the material unless they synthesize it in some way. Study materials like diagrams, mnemonics, and models both enhance understanding and bolster confidence that the student can teach themselves. Creating study materials yourself is crucial—do not just rely on premade Quizlet sets or textbook diagrams! TEACH TEST-TAKING AND STUDY SKILLS. Students cannot rely on test-taking skills alone, but they certainly make tests easier. Additionally, being strategic when studying is a huge part of success. Students who participate in test-heavy competitions like Science Olympiad or AMC often excel in ALL of their classes because they learn to recognize the patterns that many tests follow. SET ATTAINABLE GOALS. Academic excellence can feel impossible because students often set too high of goals and too unrealistic of a timeline. But successful students are realistic about their own abilities, what they can achieve, and only focus on being better versions of themselves, not someone else. This leads to measurable improvement that will give them the confidence to excel in future endeavors.