Patrick

Certified Tutor

I graduated from the University of Kansas with a 3.9 GPA. While at KU, I double-majored in Journalism and International Studies with my IS concentration in Western European Literature. After college, I taught English for two years at Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City, OK as a member of the “Teach For America” program. I taught two highly rigorous courses for both 10th and 12th graders, and, for each, I created my own curriculum. While at Capitol Hill, I helped found an after school tutoring program for my 10th and 12th grade students. I have tutored now for almost four years (will be four years in May). I tutor 5th-12th grade English and math up to Algebra. I love to tutor students in everything, but English is my passion. There are so many daunting tasks that go along with reading a novel or drama, learning critical thinking skills and outlining, drafting and editing a critical analysis essay. However, there is no greater joy than seeing the pride that a student feels in his or her work upon completing this type of task. That is why I love English.
I have a very unique style of tutoring. When I taught, I had 120 students who learning and reading levels spanned seven grade levels (4th through 10th). A significant amount of my students were English Language Learners and almost all my students had different learning modalities or styles. This taught me how to identify and adapt. My tutoring style is much similar. Identifying your student's reading and leaning level as well as his or her learning modality or style is always the first step. After that, in helping my students, I take a very inquiry-based approach to tutoring, creating leading questions that force the student to find the answer themselves rather than simply being given the answer from the tutor. I do this for two reasons. The first is critical thinking skills and probing questions such as those I ask my students will help them succeed in the higher echelons of educations. And secondly, it is very important for a student to advocate for his or her own education. They need to understand where they need help and, more importantly, why they need the help they are getting (i.e. what part of that subject they are struggling with). When they understand what they are doing wrong and they find the answer "themselves" after answering several leading questions, they are more energized and excited, and they are ready to work even harder.
Outside of tutoring, I enjoy many things. I hike, fly-fish and run as much as I can. I love watching all forms of football, and I am an avid Royals fan. I also enjoy theatre and plays, and I try to read at least an hour everyday.