Wouter

What is your teaching philosophy?

My philosophy of education is focused on sharing my own passion for a subject and developing a similar appreciation in the students that I work with. I believe that this passion is essential for effective learning to happen, namely learning should never be rote memorization that fades away after an exam but something that persists and ultimately grows. I always have fun tutoring; I try my best to make it enjoyable, be it outlining an essay, understanding the critical content of a passage or preparing for standardized tests. I am flexible, patient and can adapt myself to any learning needs a student has. My interests are reading literature (as well as some sci- fi), travel and getting up with the sun to go hiking or to go for a long bike ride in the beautiful desert.

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

I like to get to know what subjects my student typically enjoys and does well in, and with what subjects (and for what reasons) they struggle. I like to find out what motivates them, and I always set goals on how to achieve their priorities.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I teach my students where to look for more information on their own and, most importantly, how to ask the right questions.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I help set achievable goals that result in a tangible improvement. Often small, measured steps keep a student focused and confident in their own abilities.

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

As a tutor I have learned to approach a difficult topic or concept from multiple angles. There are many different ways of understanding a concept, and often each student has their own preference for how they like to think about a difficult problem. I make sure to give multiple examples of different approaches in order to give a holistic and accessible understanding of the topic.

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

I teach students how to read for structure and not detail - this method helps students understand the bigger picture. Then they can go back for specific questions to fill in any smaller details they need later on.

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

I set achievable goals, I teach topics from multiple angles, I share my passion for learning, I am patient and I am creative.

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

If a student is struggling with engagement, I try to relate what they are learning directly to their life. Also, I try to share my own passion for the subject - this has always helped inspire me, and I try to replicate that same experience for my students.

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

I typically like to make up review questions so that the student can demonstrate their mastery.

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

I set a series of achievable goals to build a student's confidence.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I have students explain their reasoning and methodology when answering questions. This why I can understand how they think and what needs a student has.

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

I am very flexible and can approach all the topics I tutor from multiple angles. Every student learns in a different way and has different needs and I make sure to help specifically with their area of need. I always enjoy working with a new student, and I have found that I learn an incredible amount from my students whenever I adapt to their learning styles!