What is your teaching philosophy?

My philosophy is that there is a way for everyone to learn everything; we only have to find that way.

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

After the general "get to know you" conversation, I would begin by finding out what they enjoy about the course, what they find difficult, and what they hope to gain from tutoring sessions. It is important to find how the student will learn best (i.e. visual learning, hands-on practice, etc.) to plan future lessons. I would do assessments in the form of quick exercises to identify strengths and weaknesses of the student's performance. Then, I would follow with whatever assignments they were given and need help with, or I would provide example exercises and help them through their trouble spots.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

In my opinion, an independent learner is one that is motivated to do their best and shows it in their actions. I will help them become an independent learner by helping them feel inspired to do their work and to keep trying until they cannot get it wrong, not just until they get it right. Also, I would show them that procrastination is just an avoidance mechanism; doing work and studying sooner makes life less stressful. I will discuss how working harder and actually understanding the concepts can make any subject so much easier to tackle. Overall, I want to give the student the techniques to make learning as pleasant as possible; thus, making them more likely to want to do it on their own.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Enthusiasm for your subject is infectious. My favorite classes were taught by people who were just beaming with excitement over their field of study. Hearing the passion in their voices made going to class more fun, made the subjects more memorable through the context of their experiences, and ultimately made learning more of a relaxing, enjoyable experience. I will try to embody those that have inspired me to keep a student motivated.

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

Often the roadblock in understanding is just the delivery of the message. I would talk to the student, step by step, about what they understand and where that gets less clear. I would provide different exercises and ways of explaining a concept to increase the probability of it 'clicking' in the student's mind.

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

I would try to make the subject more relatable to the student. The subject I struggle with the most is history, from childhood on. The teachers that made history the easiest and the most fun to learn were the ones that told the anecdotal stories and 'fun facts'. They were the ones that made learning more casual rather than rigid. I would find what makes students make connections easier.

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

In school, I was inspired by the quote "Do not do it until you get it right. Do it until you cannot get it wrong." I would use repetition as a test of understanding. I would ask questions in a different way or have students run a problem backwards. I would run through why the concepts make sense, as well as actual calculations and problems.

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

A student's confidence is built when they succeed in something or when something becomes easier for them. I would help build their confidence by making sure they understand concepts and run through so many practice problems that they could do it in their sleep. It is critical for me to make sure the student is feeling comfortable in the subject matter before a test. When the hard work starts to pay off is when they will feel more confident and motivated to maintain that level of dedication. And a little encouragement always helps!

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

I would adapt to my student's needs by testing how they learn best by exposing them to different methods of learning (e.g. auditory, visual, tactile). I would remain dynamic and flexible with teaching methods and exercises to match the student's needs.