Dr. Rachel DeRita Science Tutoring
About
Dr. Rachel DeRita
Private and small group tutor, 10 years
Member, National Tutoring Association
PhD, Cancer and Molecular Biology, Jefferson 2019
EV Core Facility Director, University of Pennsylvania
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-derita/
Tutoring philosophy and experience:
I have been a tutor for over 10 years and I have always had a passion for taking what seems impossible to understand and translating it to something the student can work with to then find the answers on their own. I believe in empowering students with the skills needed for both scientific and self-inquiry so that when new academic challenges arise, they have the appropriate tools to solve the problem at hand. I provide more than just a list of memorized terms and formulas without any meaning attached to them and through building this increased understanding of their curricular subject matter, my students not only perform better academically and earn better grades, they have the ability to understand the world around them in a deeper way. I additionally provide additional coaching in how to most effectively study for scientific exams based on the students learning type and personality.
I began tutoring over a decade ago as a student at the University of Delaware in both group and one-on-one settings. I specialized in general chemistry and functional anatomy. Very early on in my academic experience, I saw the need for more proactive teaching methods and supplementary study to what we would often experience in the large lecture hall.
When I entered graduate school at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA, I became a teaching assistant in general chemistry and also an adjunct professor in anatomy and physiology. I was additionally a private tutor for Varsity Tutors and tutored chemistry, biochemistry, biology and molecular biology. I tutored using online platforms as well and am able to adapt very effectively to new modes of distance learning, which is becoming more and more important in the present day.
After earning my PhD at Jefferson in 2019, I built, curated and began work as the director and curator of the Extracellular Vesicle Core Facility at the University of Pennsylvania where I often continue teaching and coaching students academically in addition to providing my laboratory’s scientific services. I hope to revive and expand my tutoring services and evolve with the ever-changing world around us and strive to keep education and student engagement in the sciences alive.
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
After an initial consultation about what the student needs, II often like to preview the subject matter as well before our first initial session. I then begin with some basic practice problems to assess where the student lies and provide either more advanced practice if they are proficient in what I gave them, or I take a step back to revisit the subject matter with a different perspective if the student needs more assistance. I then alternate between engaging in the aubject matter to create future study strategies and study guides and actual practice to assess student progress. I usually prioritize practice questions from past exams if possible to maximiaze efficiency, and then move on to what is provided in their texbooks, lectures and cirriculum in general.
When an exam is imminent, I prioritize practice questions for the exam as an assessment and then methodically triage the areas that need the most attention leading up to t he exam. II often have students create their own study guides between sessions as well as an active form of studying, as opposed to passively reading their lectures over and over.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have taken graduate-level courses in both general pedagogy and scientific pedagogical technique and philosophy. As a PhD actively working in the sciences as well, I am well-versed in the actual experience of growing from a science student to an actively working scientist and my degree allows me to apply specific tutoring techniques based on what the student wishes to accomplish in the future as well as their current cirriculum.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
My pricing is $90/hour for High School, AP, and College-level tutoring and $100/hour for graduate level tutoring.
*For graduate students on a stipend, discounts may be applied
How did you get started teaching?
I began teaching as a student at the University of Delaware over a decade ago. I immediately saw the need for more active and personlized attention for students in the sciences beyond what we were receieving in the large, overcrowded lecture halls. Very early on, I realized my passion for helping other students who were feeling overwhelmed realize their potential and that they were in fact intelligent enough to understand the material.