What is your teaching philosophy?

Learning is a skill, not something you're born with. Anyone can become a better learner with practice.

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

In the first tutoring session, I get to know my students: what they like and dislike, what they're good at and what they struggle with. Then, I ask them about their goals for bettering themselves, and we make a plan for them to achieve these goals, one step at a time. Finally, we dig into the first of these steps and start learning as soon as possible.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can teach students study skills and classroom skills that will turn them into independent and effective learners. We will talk about reading skills, homework completion strategies, ways of thinking critically, organizational practices, and confidence-building strategies. It takes small steps to achieve big goals.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I will break down big problems into small manageable issues and help them take small steps towards improvement. I will also remind students of the end-goal, to get a better education so they can have a brighter future. This is all about accomplishing their dreams, schoolwork is merely a stepping stone toward the destination.

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

I will get a firm grasp of what parts of that skill or concept they DO understand, and then build up their understanding starting from there. I will teach the new information slowly with openness for questions at any step of the way so there is no confusion on the student's part. If the difficulties persist, we will practice the skill or concept together, and I will present the subject from a different angle.

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

I teach students focus strategies so they can be active in their reading. Then, I encourage students to improve their reading comprehension with writing and discussion about the reading so they remember the reading better. I also break down big reading assignments into smaller pieces so students can read a small piece, and I can check their understanding on that small piece before moving forward with the rest. Lastly, I help them improve their note-taking skills so they can write about their readings in their own words and comprehend their assignments better.

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

I get to know the student first (some things they're interested in and where they're at in school) and how they feel about the subject of the course. Then, I encourage them to get engaged in the learning from the first lesson so they feel ownership of their progress from day one.

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

I would do two things: I would remind them of the benefit to them that comes from getting better at the struggling subject, and I would relate the subject matter to something they could identify with via an example (for instance, relating a "solve for x" algebra problem to figuring out the gas mileage in the student's car).

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

I would break the material at-hand into small checkpoints and check their progress against those checkpoints. Then, I would explain the details of checkpoints they've yet to understand, one at a time. Lastly, we would connect the dots between individual checkpoints and approach understanding the topic as a whole.

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

I help the student see that any subject can be broken down into small, basic concepts and help them apply those basics to break down complex problems. I also equip them with new skills and encourage them to use those skills so they realize that they can succeed in even their most difficult subjects.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I first ask them "What would you like to get out of these tutoring sessions?" Then, I have them do a few practice questions in their subject area and see where their strengths and weaknesses lie. If they don't have any blatant weaknesses or specific needs that stand out in the subject area, I apply a generalist approach where I strengthen their skills in all areas of the subject area from the ground up.

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

I listen to the student, hear what they say they need the most help with, and assess them with some basics on the subject at hand to find out where they stand. I also adapt my pace and phrasing to how their mind works so they can understand the subject from their point of view.

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

Practice tests, Pencil and Paper, White boards with multi-colored markers, Screen-sharing.