What is your teaching philosophy?

My philosophy of reading is to develop good readers who will actively interact and make connections with the text for in-depth comprehension.

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

In a first session, we would begin to build a relationship that is safe. We would read a short passage together. We would talk about the passage, checking for comprehension. During our time together, I would be making observations of their ability to decode words, looking for speech concerns, their vocabulary ability, as well as their fluency. The last thing I would have the student do is a short spelling test of nonsense words.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help a student become an independent learner by giving them the confidence to try. As long as the student feels safe and is making progress, they will be more confident in the classroom setting.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Keeping a student motivated is often achieved with praise.

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

To help a student with a difficult learning skill, I would try multiple approaches, including using the student's learning style. Hands-on is often the best solution.

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

Helping students with reading comprehension is a challenge but also fun. Making the reading personal by making connections is often a successful strategy. Making the story come alive with a hands-on activity will also help the student understand their reading.

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

The strategies that I have found to be most successful when starting to work with a student are games and drawings of themselves and their family.

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

Getting a student excited/engaged in a subject that they are struggling in is important. Giving the student a new way to look at the subject and new ways to approach the assignments could bring new interest.

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

To ensure that a student understands the material being taught, an oral quiz, a drawing/sketch of the topic, or a reenactment of the topic are just a few ideas to pursue.

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

Building a student's confidence in a particular subject comes with the student feeling safe. Sometimes this confidence takes time to build and the student needs to see their own accomplishments.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I evaluate student needs in a variety of ways: watching the student while they read and write, how they speak, how nervous they become, body movements, avoidance of tasks, and the ability to master questions.

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

I adapt my tutoring to the student's needs once I have gathered and read the case file. Using the student's strengths to master their deficit areas is key.

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

During a typical tutoring session, I use a variety of tools depending on the need. For students that need phonemic awareness and phonics skills, I use letter blocks. For comprehension, I use graphic organizers and journals. These are just a few tools that I feel are beneficial.