What is your teaching philosophy?

All people have the ability to learn and grow. It is just a matter of figuring out their personal learning style and helping them to perform at their optimal level.

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

In a typical first session, I will speak with the student (and parents) to get a feel for what their strengths and weaknesses are, as well as their favorite and least favorite subjects. I will also ask to see any current study material/school work and give an assessment. Based on this information, I will come up with a plan of action, which I will share with the student/family to review and offer suggestions.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I will help them to identify their learning style, and approach the material in a way that makes them feel confident.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I build a rapport with my students and try to incorporate their interests in lessons, and then help them build confidence in their abilities. I also make sure that the material is not too easy or too hard.

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

I would adjust my approach until I find one that works.

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

First, I would find out what the student is interested in. Then, I'd try to find interesting, grade-level material. Before reading, I would encourage the student to use any clues available to determine what the material will be about. I would take turns reading aloud with her/him to make sure that the issue is not that the material is too difficult. While reading, I would ask the student frequently to recap what had happened in the story.

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

Honestly, each student is different so there is no single strategy. I like to get a sense of what a student likes, understand his/her strengths and struggles, and find different methods of presenting and assessing lessons.

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

This would depend on the age of the student, but I would try to work around their personal interests. I could make worksheets featuring their favorite characters, make connections between the lesson and real life, turn lessons into games, use hands-on manipulatives when possible, and use motivating incentives.