What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is that all students are capable of learning, but sometimes they need a reminder as to just what they are capable of. I encourage students to work through their work, step by step, to truly understand what they are doing, and to show them that they can do it.

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

Introduce myself and my teaching background, just so they know where I am coming from. Then I would ask them what they feel are their strengths and weaknesses within the subjects, and what they hope to get the most out of the tutoring sessions.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Walking them through the steps of each math problem, or explaining the outline process for their paper, so that next time they know the proper steps to do it on their own.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Showing them what they have accomplished so far and having them teach me what they have learned to show that they are making progress.

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

Work with them to understand what exactly they are getting stuck on, and figure out a plan, whether it be flashcards or practice, until they are better equipped to understand.

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

Doing reading samples and then asking them questions as they go. Asking them simple questions at first, and then building into more comprehension questions.

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

Figure out what works for them, as well as find out what they are interested in to get them more passionate about what they are doing. So, if the student is into skateboarding, give them an essay prompt about the benefits of becoming a skateboarder to give them confidence in what they are writing. Then use that confidence to step into a different subject.

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

Finding out what they are interested in and applying that to their subject matter. So, if they want to become a vet, explain that they are going to need to know algebra to figure out ordering specific medicines, and biology to know what parts of the body on the pet they are working on.

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

Flashcards and practice problems, and notes of the steps for their work, so they know how to do it on their own in the future.

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

Showing them that they can do it on their own and having them teach me something that they have just mastered, to show them that they truly do understand what they are doing.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Asking them and then using practice problems to figure out their strengths and weaknesses.

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

Figuring out what their weaknesses are and figuring out the best method to get them through these weaknesses, making them strengths.

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

Practice problems and notes on what steps to take, so for the next problem they can follow the steps to reach a solution.