What is your teaching philosophy?

Every student can learn more than what they had known; how much they learn is different for the individual. The greater the effort, the greater the achievement; however, misguided effort can hinder progress, so we need to streamline the learning to meet goals.

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

I would ask the students what troubles them, and how they use their study time. I would also see if they understand their learning goals.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help the student streamline their study time and help them with quicker memorization techniques. Effective studying reduces time used studying and enhances recognition of the material better.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

We can set individual goals the student agrees on to show progress, and use learning styles that fit the individual.

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

I would help a student by checking the foundation knowledge, and then showing how that can apply with the new knowledge. This scaffolding technique allows for student growth.

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

I help them by helping them look for the key idea in paragraphs and have them group the contents together in a model or outline.

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

I found preassessment tests are helpful when working with students, but learning styles are essential to use with each student.

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

I find news and current topics related to the subject that can help but I also have them see science in action.

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

I use assessment tests to check on the topic covered, but I like to talk about what they missed and why they feel they missed the question.

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

I would show their learning progress on how they have gone through the new material.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I need the student's voice; this is the answers students give me on assessments and the responses to the missed questions. I may need to also check if the materials used could be adapted to a different learning style.

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

I reflect on the student's preassessment and the goals of the student, and determine how much they need to learn so we can get through as much material as possible.

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

I have models, and kits, puzzles and interactive games. I also have practice worksheets that are useful to assess gains in knowledge.