What is your teaching philosophy?

I firmly believe education is "the great equalizer." With the proper mental tools, anyone can be successful in whatever endeavors they choose. My goal as a teacher is to instill the skills and provide the information necessary for students to have success in any avenue.

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

In a first session, I ask students about their interests, how they perceive their own learning, and what they would like to accomplish in tutoring. I then establish both short- and long-term goals.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Independent learning begins with interest and motivation. I first help students determine a purpose or goal for learning. The, I select interesting materials. Finally, I provide a framework for building confidence and increasing the level of challenge (frequently called scaffolding).

How would you help a student stay motivated?

By establishing attainable, short-term goals and small rewards for meeting them and by providing frequent feedback, I help students stay motivated to learn.

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

If a student finds a particular concept or skill especially difficult, I use assessments to help pinpoint the challenging area. Often, teaching the concept in a different way and/or breaking it down into smaller segments aids learning.

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

Reading comprehension challenges are often the result of difficulty with vocabulary or syntax. Providing pre-reading assistance in these areas often helps increase reading comprehension.