I am a 2011 graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas College, having tutored with the college's Center for Academic Excellence since September 2008. I also tutored before college, helping students in math and science as part of a program with my high school chapter of the National Honor Society, helping myriad fellow students with their work in mutual classes, and reaching out to tutor others in my community.
From my tutoring at college, I earned CRLA (College Reading and Learning Association) Certification, Level II. I understand that sometimes, teachers want rote memorization; other times, problem-solving is best. Either way, it is impossible to fully understand a concept unless one knows the reasoning behind it; therefore, I believe the best explanation is the one that goes beyond what the teacher wants a student to know and into why it is that way and needs to be known. On the other hand, going that far may interfere with learning of the concept, so I am always sure to explain just enough to make things clear without going too far into the too-advanced material, just enough to reinforce the concepts and move through what needs to be done. Interesting tidbits and examples will always have their place, but only if there is enough time to cover everything.
Remember: Study methods are different for everyone - what works for me may not work for everyone, but as long as a method works there is no point in questioning it. To that end, I give advice as to what works for me, but different techniques can be just as effective.
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