What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is to be open to everything because not every student is the same. I believe that you have to use auditory, kinesthetic, or visual aids to help a student fully grasp certain concepts.

What might you do in a typical first session with a student?

When I have my first session with a student, I break it up into two parts. The first part is getting acquainted with one another. I try to get to know my students as much a possible both, academically and personally, in the allotted time so that I can have a better idea of which type of teaching style I should use. The second half of the session is an assessment to pinpoint my student's strengths and weaknesses; this allows me to start my next session fully prepared to address what they need help with.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

I first ask them what they are not understanding. I then ask if they need me to explain it again the same way or if they need me to approach it differently such as using real world problems, objects, their hobbies, etc.

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

I do the exact same thing my dad did for me when I struggled with reading comprehension, and that is breaking everything down to the most basic level and then building them up until they fully understand how to do it.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?

I relate the subject to things they are passionate about so that they can visualize the concept in a way that does not automatically make them shut down.

How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?

Positive reinforcement is the most effective way to build a student's confidence. If I myself don't show my student that I have full confidence in them, how can I expect them to have full confidence in themselves?

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I use all the resources that I have available to me at the time. I ask to see their homework, tests, in-class assignments, etc., so I can see exactly where they are struggling and build a personalized plan of action for them.

What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?

I always bring pens, pencils, a calculator, a notepad, and sometimes an iPad, depending on where we are.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I help my students advocate for themselves by instilling confidence in them, as well as showing them different techniques to help them retain information more quickly and more easily. This can range from teaching them how to take notes, to something as simple as showing them how to keep track of all their school work.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Motivating a student can be done many ways. I prefer to motivate my students by giving them an achievable end goal. I start by giving them short-term goals, such as goals we can reach by the end of each session, and as they progress, I start to give them goals that are geared towards the end of the semester.

What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?

My most effective strategy for working with my students is patience. Both positive and negative energy is contagious, so I feel that, no matter what, as a tutor, you have to remain calm and positive so that your student can do the same.

What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?

Because every student internalizes information differently, I would try to appeal to their interests to get them engaged in their work. Once they are engaged, I use techniques such as scaffolding, differentiating, and modeling.

How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?

I adapt to my student's needs by simply listening. I make sure I establish an open line of communication so that they feel comfortable enough with me to tell me when they are not understanding a concept. If you have an open line of communication, you can adapt to any situation.