the best time to start healing was yesterday

Teaching Philosophy

Education does not stop at the institutions, the universities, and the schools. Education is not about receiving knowledge, but about seeking knowledge that is already within you. It is about bringing to light information that may have been lost, forgotten, or merely uncovered. It is a lifelong process where we learn from the community, the people, the Earth, and nature. Not just the books and the teachers. Life, itself, is school.

Once a nurturing, loving environment is provided, that inner knowledge is more easily found and is more freely expressed. A coach should create a safe environment where the student is open to share his or her views and ideas. The student should be able to voice his or her opinions and thoughts on any account. This will actively help to build communication skills, develop emotional intelligence, and increase confidence in self. Unpleasant and demeaning environments that instill fear and stress into a student will make learning difficult and challenging for the student. With the establishment of an excellent learning environment, students are able to retain information more thoroughly.

All learning cases should be treated in a holistic way. All the hardships a student may be going through inside and outside of the classroom should be taken into account. This means considering any and all health conditions, behavioral issues, social relationship concerns, mental and emotional issues, and struggles faced in work life and extracurricular performance.

A student should be met at his or her level. A strong foundation should be created and then there should be encouragement to build upon this. There should be no falling behind or feeling like the pace is too fast. The pace at which a coach proceeds, should be that of the student. There are different types of learners among a group of students. These include kinesthetic, visual, and auditory. Each student’s learning type should be assessed, in efforts to find the respective tools to help them succeed. This is a key component in tailoring each lesson to a particular student, helping them to learn more efficiently.

A student should be challenged in his or her thought processes. Answers are not to be given freely. And questions are always to be explored. A Socratic questioning method should be frequently implemented to encourage critical thinking and creativity. Interactions on this level help to foster logical reasoning, enhance argumentative verbal skills, and cultivate cognitive intelligence. All in all, allowing for, not only excellent exam grades, but superb self-development.

A coach should constantly motivate students and always acknowledge their accomplishments. A coach should teach with humility and integrity, and should be patient and empathetic. It is never just about teaching a lesson, but being there for the students too.

How’s your day going? How did you sleep? Did you have something to eat? Everything’s good at home? Did you ever straighten out the issue with your coworker? How was your dance recital last night? Okay, you’re tired, you wanna take a quick break? These questions are just as important as: How do you balance this equation? How do you find the limiting reagent? What are the intermediates of the Krebs Cycle? What is the first law of thermodynamics? How is the electrochemical gradient established across the mitochondrial membrane? We cover them all!

This is tutoring redefined. This is holistic tutoring.

Coach Coolie served as a former Teaching Assistant in the Biology and Chemistry departments at Stony Brook University. Has several years of tutoring experience with students of all ages, K-12 and college level. And has experience working with students who are struggling with learning disorders, mental health issues, and cognitive disabilities, including but not limited to ADD/ADHD and dyscalculia. She has experience working with students with IEPs and 504 Plans.