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

Every student is different. Because of this, before I can help a student become engaged, I feel an important first step is to establish rapport with students and learn about their interests - academic or otherwise. This knowledge enables me to tailor my approach and provide examples that relate in some way to their interests.

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

When working with students, I like to ensure that they are understanding the material by patiently going through their work with them. In addition, I periodically stop to ask if they are understanding the material and pose questions that will indicate comprehension.

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

In order to build a student's confidence in a subject, I make sure that, in addition to pointing out any errors, I also express approval for correct responses and improvement. Also, if I struggled with a subject or topic at their age, sharing that information with a student is effective in showing them that they, too, can understand it.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

In order to evaluate a student's need, I usually begin by asking the student directly what they struggle with. In addition, to better determine the student's needs, I look through work samples of theirs.

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

The approach I take depends on a number of variables. I take into consideration the student's preferred learning style (auditory, visual, or tactile), the student's interests, and the student's response and level of interest as I am tutoring.

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

For math tutoring sessions, I tend to use a dry erase marker and board to work on practice problems with students, and I like to have time table print-outs handy for younger students.

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

In a typical first session, I would focus on learning about the student. I would ask them questions about their interests, their aspirations, their preferred learning style, the subjects that they enjoy, and the subjects or concepts they struggle with. I might also ask to see some work samples from school on the subjects we will be covering in order to better determine their needs.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

In order to help a student become an independent learner, I think it is important that I demonstrate my enthusiasm for learning first. I can demonstrate this by sharing those topics that interest and enthuse me with the student and asking that they share their interests with me. Conversations such as these can show a student that learning does not have to be a chore. In addition, having frank discussions about the importance of education in multiple facets of life can help them see the merit in seeing learning as a process.