Email: edeardorff@prepmatters.com
Bio
Maryland born and raised, Elijah has had a love for learning since a young age. As he grew older, it evolved into a love of teaching as well. Before going to college, he taught Tae Kwon Do to students of all ages, helping students learn not only martial arts but also confidence, respect and self-discipline along the way. He then pursued a degree in physics and a degree in mathematics at the University of Maryland. There, he worked as a tutor for a variety of physics and mathematics classes ranging from calculus to linear algebra and from mechanics to electrodynamics. Now recently graduated, he wishes to share his love of learning and help students be successful in their academic careers.
In his free time, Elijah enjoys bouldering, the great outdoors, and reading (particularly fantasy and sci-fi). He considers himself an intermediate foodie who is always ready for a new culinary experience. Lastly, he enjoys making jokes, though he hesitates to claim whether they are good or not!
Philosophy
Learning is a journey that looks different for everyone. Accordingly, it is important to adapt and tailor one’s presentation to a student’s specific needs and learning style. Arguably it is equally important for the student to be engaged and enjoying that journey! I tutor with these principles in mind. Even for something as notoriously arduous as test preparation, once students start to internalize the tips and strategies, they notice the difference in their performance and dig in deeper. It is a wonderful sight to see. It is also so rewarding to see a student start to enjoy a subject more as their understanding of it deepens.
We’ve all had a favorite teacher, haven’t we? A teacher that made learning less of a cognitive assembly line and more of an adventure? That is how learning should be, and I strive to make that happen.