What is your teaching philosophy?

All students are capable of achieving academic excellence given the right coaching and guidance. Teachers and tutors are students' assistants to help them arrive at this goal.

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

I always access students' prior knowledge and performance by asking them to explain how they solve problems. I also ask students what their goals are in seeking tutorials in certain subjects as well--this will allow me to cater my tutorial session with them to meet their need.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I ask students to take notes and analyze what they learn in class and what they learn from tutorials with me. Then, I ask them to choose the best strategies they would like to implement in their own learning. Students are expected to be able to perform without hints or coaching over time.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I always introduce various kinds of problems that involve more than one concept or skill to keep students engaged. When students seem to struggle, I use their prior knowledge to link what they already know to what they need to know. Proper and authentic praises and reflection are given at the right moments.

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

I refer and show the prior skills necessary for learning a skill and concept being introduced or practiced. Students are also asked to create their own practices and examples that are related to the skill and concept.

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

I help students learn to identify parts of speech. Then, I ask students to provide for themselves with codes that help them understand the given information.

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

I use what educators call "metacognition." I ask students to evaluate and analyze their own learning and how they learn through the use of various questions. Students often discover that they have prior knowledge that they can use to learn new concepts and skills with ease.

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

Being authentic with students makes them feel at ease. I also introduce a series of problems and questions that are built upon one another. As students advance, they will be able to see their progress and become more motivated from their own success.

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

I use various techniques. The most effective technique I use is to have students create or analyze problems and show me how to tackle problems using different methods. Most students create their own learning tools after a couple of sessions with me.

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

I bring in problems from another country and from grade levels that are challenging and different from what they usually experience. With little or no coaching, students are usually able to solve these problems and become more confident in a subject and their ability. In addition, I ask students to rate their performance and note any progress.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I constantly evaluate students' needs through mostly observation and the amount of time students spend on any particular problem and practice.

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

I introduce methods or reinforce what students already know first. If the methods they know are not effective, I will introduce my methods and have them identify any area that needs adjustments. I try to limit strategies to a certain number so students can memorize without clues or notes.

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

Students bring materials they may need me to go over, in addition to my materials I collect over the years. Scientific and graphic calculators are also parts of tutoring sessions.