What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that all students can learn, but just not in the same way. As an educator, I enjoy the challenge of assessing the learning style and preference of the individual student, and then developing a plan that incorporates the student's likes. I believe true learning can take place when the student is engaged in the teaching. True learning can happen when the educator is responsive to the needs of the student.

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

In the first session with the student, it is essential to build a relationship. Then I determine how the student can learn. Finally, I set the expectations for our sessions; both expectations the student has for me as the tutor, and those I have for the student.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Make the content relevant to the student. Find ways to make the material meaningful to the student.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Celebrate every milestone with the student!

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

The educator can not be afraid to teach and reteach, and to break the learning process into small but measurable steps until the student can makes gains towards mastery.

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

Fluency is the key to reading comprehension. Phonic (words) and phonemic (word sounds) awareness are the first steps. The goal is to help the student understand that words have meaning and words are POWERFUL! This will help in comprehension.

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

The best strategy is to know where the student is (diagnose) and use their current knowledge as the springboard for future gains.

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

You must find ways to make the teaching meaningful. Learning can be fun and exciting. (P.S. Celebrating the small victories go a long way!)

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

I have learned the students that are writing, talking, and doing are learning. Take good notes. Ask specific questions. Get the body involved.

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

Celebrate the small victories.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Introduce material that is above their level. The educator should drop the difficulty level until the student has mastery and build from there. You don't want to introduce materials below or above the student's ability level.

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

Determine if the student learns best by hearing, seeing, or doing.

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

Technology and good old fashioned pen and paper.