How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Becoming an independent learner would require developing good study habits--discussing note-taking, reviewing materials (if available) prior to class, and balancing social and learning activities. These are but a few of the areas that would greatly contribute to a student becoming an independent learner.

What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is that learning is a continuous and lifelong process. All students have the capacity to learn and we as educators will tap into each student's individual and distinct ways of learning.

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

Getting to know the student will be my first goal. Learning from the client the things they believe will bring about success academics.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would try to gear my lessons to those topics that the student enjoys. For instance, if the student is an avid football fan, creating a writing assignment that is a comparison /contrast on two of their favorite players.

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

Repetition is key coupled with relating the task to something the student likes.

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

One of the strategies could be to relate the topic to something that is already known. Also, students can make inferences or predictions about the text. These strategies including others would directly involve students in the text and increase their understanding.

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

Using a student centered approach to learning. Using some time with the student to learn about likes, dislikes, and determining the most effective learning strategies for each student.

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

Again, by using a student centered approach to learning and attempting to develop sessions that will promote a genuine interest in the topics studied.

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

Repetition, repetition, and more repetition. Related activities and relating the activity to ideas the student is familiar with.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Looking at the student's work submitted by the teacher, talking to the parents, talking with the student, and sticking to a student-centered approach when developing learning strategies for the student.

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

With a student centered approach discussed in my previous responses.

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

Assignments from client's teacher, appropriate worksheets and activities from the Web, texts and items I develop such as spelling and definition assignments.

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

Learning strategies that would relate the topics to something the client is already familiar with. Also, making inferences or predictions about the text.