What is your teaching philosophy?

I always like to get input on what students are thinking, challenge them by making them think in different ways, and above all communicate in a way that clicks with each student, because we are all different.

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

Assess where the student is currently at, ask what they want help with the most/want out of sessions, and develop a strategy to accomplish their goals.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Always ask what they are thinking, then ask what they would do next, then guide them, but don't hold their hand.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Remind them of their goals and the implications of those goals.

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

Try to illustrate the concept, act it out, or communicate it in a new way.

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

Break it down into smaller pieces. Once they can see all the pieces, they can start to build the puzzle into a clear picture.

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

Ask what the student thinks. Challenge them to see it in a different light. Try different practice problems, minimizing input.

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

Show them the fundamentals. Keep changing the way you present the material until it clicks with them.

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

Practice, practice, practice makes perfect. Practice, then review and fix mistakes until they have the concept down.

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

Keep asking questions they have mastered (reminds them of their accomplishment and reiterates the concept).

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Ask them. Have them do practice problems. Evaluate and repeat occasionally to identify problem areas.

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

Ask what they are want out of the sessions. Spend extra time on challenge areas.

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

Paper/pencil, books, laptop, models (if applicable).