What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is anyone can learn, but we all learn in different ways and at a different pace. There is not one "right" way to approach learning ,only the way that is best for you. I believe having a sense of humor and making the learner feel comfortable is a main priority to relieve learning and academic anxiety.

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

Get to know the student through an informal student interview. Have the student complete an easy reading/math survey to determine how they feel about those subjects. Provide game-based learning activity to see how the student approaches problem-solving.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Ensure understanding of what you are trying to have the student complete. There can't be independence unless there has been learning.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

With encouraging words. Allow the student to move around as needed. Sessions of learning should not be too long. Make learning a competition.

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

Break an assignment down into chunks. Leveled readers. Use high interest and low reading assignments to boost confidence. Assess with standard reading assessment to rule in or out an underlying issue.

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

Humor. Flexibility. Movement. Multiple short work times.

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

Check for prior knowledge through s general interview, game, or short video to determine level of interest and knowledge.

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

Conversation. Have the student teach me the concept as if I was the student, explaining each step as they go along.

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

Encouragement through words. Give credit to the student for what they already know.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Basic visual and oral assessment. Written assessment. If the student can explain the concept easily and with confidence.

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

After initial meeting and basic evaluation, I would research web sites, worksheets, and game-based learning to find a activities of high interest to the student, in effect creating a "bag of tricks" to use with the student.

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

Paper, pencil, crayons, games, worksheets, textbooks, and a laptop or iPad.