My teaching philosophy develops more and more every day. I believe that as you learn new information, you may incorporate that into every aspect of life. Teaching and learning does not only occur within a classroom setting. The more a student wishes to know and is willing to engage in more activities, the more they will prosper and grow. When I assist students with their various subjects, I try to help them capture the essence of the subjects. When we can apply things we learn to our daily routines, conversations, etc., it makes learning more interesting. This also ensures a greater likelihood for success.

In a typical first session with a student, I will do the following: 1. Introduce myself (scholarly background, interest in becoming a tutor, answer any questions the student has). 2. Ask the student about their strengths, weaknesses, and major concerns. 3. Review the material together. 4. Create guidelines for writing effective papers, homework, etc.. 5. Create a progress report for the subject(s) (grades from homework, quizzes, and exams). 6. Find alternative resources which may help outside of our sessions. 7. Ensure not to leave the session with any unanswered questions or concerns.

I help my students stay motivated through positive reinforcement. Whenever the student does something correct, I would give high fives, applause, accolades, stickers (younger students), etc.. I have noticed that a student will become less dependent on others when they feel confident that they can complete the assignment without much assistance. Thus, as a tutor, it is our job to guide the student to the right answer, not to do their work for them.

In order to assist students who are struggling with reading comprehension, there are several methods which can be utilized. 1. Understand what the student definitely knows, semi-knows, and where they got confused. 2. Have the student use an organizational guide (Venn Diagram, list characters/prominent features or descriptions within the text, draw pictures and label them based on the text, etc.). 3. If I have read the text prior, I can ask questions that will help guide the student on the right track. 4. I would have the student refer back a few pages or chapters to find where they missed some information. 5. Without looking at the book or reading, I would have the student paint a verbal picture for me.

In order to get a student excited or engaged in a subject they are struggling in, I would try my best to find ways the subject applies to their hobbies or daily routine. As an example, if the student enjoys playing video games, I would turn the learning style into a game. As an example, I could make a crossword puzzle for word definitions or a jeopardy game.

Some techniques I would use to be sure the student is understanding the material are practice exams, practice questions, short answer questions, having the student describe or find a solution that works for a given problem, or have them read a short passage and explain the details. The goal is to ensure the student leaves the study session feeling more confident and continues mastering new learning techniques.

If I am given a syllabus or some type of course guideline, I will typically base my brought materials off of that. As an example, if I am teaching basic computer skills, I would find short YouTube videos that can better explain certain topics. With a laptop or desk computer at hand, I would have the student demonstrate the skill. In a tutoring session for English, the sciences, or math, a calculator, ruler, protractor, dictionary, thesaurus, anatomical structures/diagrams, and element blocks (chemistry) could be helpful.