What is your teaching philosophy?

My area of certification is secondary mathematics. Of course, knowledge of mathematics is by far one of the most essential elements of being an effective math teacher, but throughout my educational experiences I have found the most influential math teachers weigh heavily the concept of teaching students to love math, not just learn it. Parallel to this is that an indispensable math teacher knows how to break down the very intricate subject of mathematics and present it in a very organized and structured manner. But, teaching a subject that many students hold such disdain for makes it very hard for a math teacher. In many situations a math teacher will have a classroom full of students who just don't enjoy math. The most popular response is that "Math is hard and there is no point in learning it!" During my 10 years of teaching and while a tutor for the Mansfield University and Allegheny College math departments, I lost count as to how many times a student had made a remark parallel to the one just mentioned. Out of the essential elements of a math teacher mentioned thus far I would like to focus on the idea of making students learn to love math. To be an effective and influential math teacher one has to learn how to motivate their students. One of my particular strengths is using technology to engage my students and spark a sense of interest in the material. I have learned how to use technology with a class full of students to channel their youthful energy and spirit into that subject. Essentially, a math teacher must make their students respect and enjoy mathematics to the point where a student will go home and voluntarily think about the math they had learned that day. So many teachers are trying to make learning fun by incorporating games and other mediums into their lessons that aren't constructive, a practice that has started to overshadow the true essence of education. Teachers aren't in the classroom to make sure the students are having fun; they are put in that classroom to prepare their students for life. But, if a math teacher – or any teacher for that matter – successfully takes a given student and makes them adore the content, then the fun and enjoyable atmosphere will naturally follow. Math teachers also must remind their students that math is a language just like English, Spanish, or French. When you want to learn a language you have to learn the syntax and semantics in order to be able to speak that language properly; the very same idea applies to math. Students don't realize that math is a language that teaches them how to think logically and decisively. Sure, much of the information that the students learn in a trigonometry course won't be used in their everyday lives, but by learning that information a student's thought process and analytical skills becomes more powerful. This in turn makes them more viable to have success in whatever career they choose to pursue. After all, that is an underlying goal of any teacher.

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

I would learn the interests of my student and come up with creative ways to apply math to their hobbies.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I use a teaching strategy called "Guiding Questions." By using this strategy, the student will learn to think analytically, critically, and decisively on their own.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

By constantly praising the successes they make and encouraging them at all times to do better.

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

I would differentiate my instruction to fit the student's learning style.

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

I would think of different ways to explain the question. Ten years of teaching experience helps me do that.

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

Using the "Rule of Four." I teach mathematics with four themes in mind: analytically, algebraically, written/verbal, and graphically.

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

I would think of ways to apply mathematics to their hobbies or interests.

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

I would check for understanding by using the "I do, we do, you do" approach.

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

By starting out slow and making sure they have the basics down first. After I feel they have mastered that, I move on to more advanced and difficult material.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Having taught all of the traditional math courses that most high schools have to offer, I can pinpoint a student’s weakness just by looking at old tests and quizzes.

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

Again, by getting to know the student and looking at how they have performed on old assessments.

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

Marker boards, TI-84 Calculator, Mathematica, graphs and graph paper, etc.