What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that teaching and learning should be active and engaging. By teaching how concepts are related and using real world examples, I set students up for long-term success.

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

In a first session with a student, I first try to assess what method of learning works best for that student. If the student requires multiple sessions, we will discuss a plan to tackle the material, set a few goals, and begin working. I often use a combination of real world examples/applications, practice questions, and videos of demonstrations/animations to help the student master a topic.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help to foster independent learning by setting achievable and realistic goals with the student and teaching study/success skills throughout the lessons. By helping students use the tools they have (such as textbooks) and by showing them how to find information in external sources, I encourage active and independent learning.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I work hard to get to know my students and find ways to make a subject interesting for them. When they can relate to a topic and learn why it matters, they are much more motivated to learn.

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

New concepts can be difficult to understand for anyone. With a student, I have them read the given "textbook" explanation of the concept, paraphrase it in their own words, and look for examples that demonstrate this new concept. By talking through examples, pointing out related concepts, and working through practice problems, the student will master the concept relatively quickly.

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

I work with the student to read through a passage slowly, stopping to identify and define new terms, and paraphrasing each sentence as we go.

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

Every student is different, all of them appreciate patience. By taking the time to build a rapport with a student, I put them at ease and communication becomes much easier. I ask every student what their goals are for a session, we identify what tasks might be more difficult, and we decide where my expertise and assistance are best applied.

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

Creating enthusiasm for a topic a student is not interested in is simply a matter of finding out what the student is interested in and presenting the topic on those terms. This can mean finding real life applications, or creating practice problems about zombies, whichever works.

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

I often ask a student to teach the topic back to me. After reviewing the subject and working on practice problems, most do this with ease. This is by far the best way I have found to identify the one or two details the student might be misunderstanding.

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

Show them their own success. Start a student off at a level of difficulty that you believe they can handle, give them the tools they need to find the answers, practice those problems, and encourage them every step of the way. "Math isn't scary! We just did math on that last problem, and you did great!"

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

First, I speak with the student, they very often know what they need the most help with. I give a range of practice problems for their subject with different levels of difficulty and work to identify what level the student is at. Then, we can start at that level and work our way up until the student is proficient and confident in the subject.

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

Everyone learns differently. By incorporating different learning styles into my tutoring, I can identify early on what works best for a student and adapt any future sessions to include more visuals, more hands-on practice, or more focus on memorization.

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

This largely depends on the student and the subject. I start every session with a notebook and pen for my own notes. I may incorporate practice problems, YouTube videos (especially animations of biological concepts), flashcards, and drawings to help a student learn.