What is your teaching philosophy?

We learn something new every day.

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

Find out his/her strengths and weaknesses.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Encourage the students to ask questions and try to find the answer using their resources in addition to the knowledge they've amassed.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Provide incentives such as less homework or treats while we study.

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

Take more time on it, break it down further, and try to approach the skill from a different angle.

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

I recommend pulling back to simpler texts, then building back up and catching any errors along the way.

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

I find letting the students work on their own, while observing their methodology and correcting any common mistakes along the way, to be the most successful.

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

Having learned a particular topic, I would have the student teach it to me as if I were the one struggling.

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

Note the progress he or she has made, tell them how great they're doing, and reward them.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I ask what strengths they have and quiz them to make sure that they are indeed strong in a particular area.

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

I increase the pace and may occasionally skip topics, or I will slow down and break up my steps to make sure I don't lose their focus and understanding.

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

I use method books, flashcards, and examples that can be easily related. For example, when working with fractions, I like to use cookies.