What is your teaching philosophy?

No two students are the same; I adapt every session to an individuals' needs.

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

We get to know one another, talk about school and academic goals as well as hobbies and outside interests, discuss organization techniques, and evaluate which learning strategies work best for the student.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I help the student come up on her own with ways to remember and understand concepts, so she can draw on those techniques even when I'm not there.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I create fun activities that break down academic concepts in ways that appeal to the individual student's interests.

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

Break it down to its smallest components, and work on each part until the student understands. Adapt the student's strengths and interests to the concept. If they love music or drawing, incorporate that into the lesson; they will be more likely to "get it" when the material is on their level.

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

Break it down to its smallest components. Adapt the material to the student's strengths and interests. If the language is complex or outdated, relate the material to modern language.

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

Getting to know each other; feeling comfortable and establishing trust. Talking about what's worked or needed improvement in the past.

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

Try to find ways to relate the subject material to things that interest the student. Do they love music? Drawing? Use that to teach new concepts or old literature.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Listen to the student. They know better than anyone when they need help.

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

Every student is different. Talk to the student and find out what they need, then tailor the lesson to them.

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

Worksheets, dry erase markers, and a notebook.

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

There are many techniques proven to help students understand material--we may try several to see what works best for the student.

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

Praise them for their efforts and their successes. Even when they don't get the answer right, they have made an effort to understand it. They will do better every time, and that boosts confidence.