Educational Psychology
Incorporating Developmental Psychology into Every Session and Curriculum
Educational psychology plays a pivotal role in shaping effective teaching methodologies and fostering student development. By delving into how students learn and interact, educators can craft strategies that enhance academic performance and social-emotional growth. I examine cognitive processes, individual learning preferences, and the dynamics within educational settings to design teaching approaches that cater to diverse student needs.
My Commitment to Educational Psychology
With over a decade of experience in curriculum development, I am deeply committed to integrating the principles of educational psychology into my tutoring practice. My continuous research in educational strategies, child psychology, and curriculum design ensures that my methods are both current and effective. This dedication allows me to provide personalized instruction that addresses each student's unique learning style and fosters their overall development.
Understanding Learning Styles
Recognizing that students absorb information differently is fundamental to effective teaching. The VARK model, which categorizes learners as Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, or Kinesthetic, highlights these variations:
Visual Learners: Prefer using images, diagrams, and spatial understanding to process information. I use a document camera, drawings and graphs, and visually connected notes to help reinforce the skills we learn together.
Auditory Learners: Benefit from listening to lectures, discussions, and verbal explanations. A lot of tutoring is verbal, and I’m able to scale up or down the amount of lecturing I provide. I also include explanatory videos in many of my worksheets.
Reading/Writing Learners: Excel through interaction with text, such as reading and writing activities. I incorporate clear text and answer explanations in every worksheet I create and assign.
Kinesthetic Learners: Engage best through hands-on experiences and real-life examples. I connect skills, topics, and vocabulary to practical experiences as often as possible.
While the concept of distinct learning styles has been a topic of debate, acknowledging individual learning preferences can still inform more tailored and effective teaching strategies.
Curriculum Development Practices
My curricula are centered around independent learning. The student receives instruction and clarification from me during live sessions, and then has a fully complete lecture, notes, and practice in the worksheets. My worksheets don’t function like textbooks. Textbooks are often dense, choose complex examples, and don’t fully explain every tiny step. My worksheets break things down fully and gradually build skills with progressive complexity and the right amount of repetition.
Students need to practice enough to get their feet under them before progressing to the edge cases and exceptions and challenge problems. In over a decade, I’ve mastered an approach to this progressive buildup that works for a wide variety of learners. And I’m still editing and growing my curriculum today!