What is your teaching philosophy?

Every kid deserves a fun, loving, patient, and supportive tutor or teacher. That's what I strive to be.

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

We will get to know one another. So I'll ask the student what he has experienced before, and what he likes and dislikes about teachers in the past. That way I'll know how to create materials and teach. I'll go over my own expectations, too.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

This really depends on the subject. For reading, it is all about finding the best books for the particular child and exploring it. For math, it's about role playing activities that apply practical skills. For science, I'd have to look for experiments that apply. For social studies, it's about seeing how social studies provides context for our everyday living.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I'll have work that builds off of practice in between sessions. That way a student will see how consistent building provides the student competence and confidence. Most kids aren't motivated because they feel dumb. I can show them otherwise.

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

I try to figure out why, and then adapt with different delivery methods.

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

I find out why with a diagnostic, and then build a reading plan that includes read-alouds, guided reading, and independent reading at their reading level. Then I hit phonics and vocabulary.

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

We start with getting to know each other. Plus, I keep it friendly and cordial by never yelling and always being patient.

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

I differentiate. And I try to make it fun.

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

Little quizzes and informal observations.

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

I differentiate. I start where the kid is at now and build to where they need to be.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

It depends on the subject and grade, but I'd know by looking at previous work, the parents' knowledge, the current teacher's opinion, and my own observations and diagnostics.

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

I look at the skills a kid has and needs to know. Where the student lags, I fill in.

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

It depends, but I like whiteboards and markers, books, manipulatives, and a computer.