Customizing to each student is the key to success! I like to find out how you learn best so that we can have the perfect blend of content to meet your needs.

I love to sit down with a student and any other family members to find out how they learn best. Do they have any hobbies or play any sports? Sometimes I can relate what they're learning to something they already love, and that really helps drive the lessons home.

I love asking questions. My goal is to help each student develop the critical thinking skills they need beyond just knowing how to answer a given problem. They will be able to take that skill into any classroom or life situations moving forward.

Building a student's confidence is one way that I have found for them to best stay motivated. Genuinely celebrating little wins along the way helps them to keep going.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, I like to take a step back and talk to the student to find out what is really going on. Maybe they understood up to a certain point. Maybe I need to change my approach entirely. One time I had a student who was not feeling well, and that was the reason why the content was extra challenging. Once we figure out what is going on, we keep at it until we get it.

In my experience, students struggling with reading comprehension usually comprehend best in one particular manner. They may comprehend more when they read aloud or hear someone else read the content. Sometimes they need to practice methods that are not their strong suit. Breaking the content into smaller sections and checking for comprehension at intervals helps. I have also found that going over unknown vocabulary words is also critical for understanding.

When I start to work with a new student I like to find out about their learning style. Some students I work with know the content, but they freeze up when they take tests. Some are simply unorganized or unmotivated. Maybe they study all the time with the TV on and just need to change their study habits. Once we figure out what is wrong with their studying on a basic level, we can build content on top of that and be really successful.

Success breeds excitement and engagement. When they learn a new concept or skill that needs to be celebrated. I love to follow-up with my students the next time that we meet and see how they did on that test or homework assignment. Once they start to see those tangible improvements, their excitement grows and they become more invested in their own learning outcomes.

I love to have students demonstrate the work for me. I can see what they know and where they get stuck. If they do get stuck, I ask leading questions to have them think about what the next step is. It's a great feeling when I see that spark when they've figured it out!

Confidence is built through hard work and practice. Students intrinsically know if they really know the content or not. When someone can say- yes I know how to do that- that is the highest level of confidence. Until we get there, it is patiently building that knowledge base one block at a time until there is that assurance of mastery.

Spending time with a student often reveals their needs. Of course they will have an immediate need like math help. But once I start to spend time with a student, I will see other things like organizational help or the need to boost confidence. The ongoing relationship is so important, and that's why I love meeting with students in person to be able to evaluate all of their needs more effectively.

If I'm working on a math problem for example- I would have my general explanation. If that doesn't make sense, then I might draw a picture or make an analogy. It's all about customization and being flexible.

I always carry pencil and paper. I also bring basic reference books that pertain to the subject area. I also use my iPhone. Sometimes you just need a calculator or to be able to Google something.