Larry

What is your teaching philosophy?

There is no stupid question. The more you ask, the more WE learn. It is better to make mistakes now and learn from them than to make mistakes later on when the consequences are much bigger.

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

Set the foundation. Discover what are one's interests and dislikes. Create a non-judgmental atmosphere.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

A student will have mastered a subject once he/she is able to teach the material as well. I believe becoming an independent learner means being able to teach the material.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Relate the material to everyday situations. Relate the material to his/her career dreams and goals.

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

Approach the material from different points of view. I believe one can learn any concept, but no one method will work for everyone

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

Break down the underlying cause for the struggle, tackle the problem, and then practice, practice, practice.

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

Repetition. Part of learning is understanding the material. The other half is recalling how to approach the problem.

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

Break down the material. We all struggled with a subject at one point or another. The common thing among all of us, once we have conquered the obstacle, is the little steps we took to overcome the problem

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

Any technique to help the student learn, including everything from utilizing art to incorporating YouTube animations. The tools are limitless when it comes to learning

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

Have the student teach the material. Once one can teach the material, mastery is within reach

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I evaluate a student's needs based on the difference between his/her accomplishments and his/her goals

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

There is no one method to teaching. With that being said, one must utilize as many tools and techniques as appropriate to teach, and that comes with experience.

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

Whiteboard, computer, block models.