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

Find out how the student learns best, what they are struggling with the most, and what they already have a good handle on.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Helping them through not just specific problems, but how to approach problems and homework in general. Problem solving is an incredibly important life skill that I try to emphasize in my tutoring.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help them review what they know, and remind them of the progress they have already made. This usually helps boost the student's confidence and gives them energy to try and tackle the next concept.

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

I would break a larger concept into smaller ideas, or introduce learning materials that present the concept in a new and different way.

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

Sometimes, it can be a case of learning to 'translate' textbook writing style into conversational writing. I would give them tips on 'translating,' and teach the ideas behind new vocabulary so that it really sticks with them.

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

I would give them real-world examples OR I would give them examples that are so weird that they're funny and stay in their memory.

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

My go-to technique is to play the part of the student myself. If they can teach the subject back to me, they've got it down. Sometimes I learn new ways to explain concepts that way as well!

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

Communication! I can adapt to their needs easily if I ask them what those needs are-- and not just at the first meeting, but in some cases individual sessions, for different concepts, and in general if anything changes in the student's life.

What is your teaching philosophy?

Let the student make mistakes; emphasize the process more than the final answer.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

By looking at the student's graded homework and tests, but also asking what they are struggling with.

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

Go back to what they know, and slowly add concepts that tie in to things they already feel familiar with. Also, keep them interested with real-world examples.

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

A lot of scratch paper, online practice problems and examples, and the student's own notes.

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

Get to know them and their interests, find out how dedicated they are to learning the material, and find a structure to the tutoring sessions that works for them based on their attention span, motivation, and what they need the most help in. For example, if a student gets bored doing practice problems, break them up with conversation about the concepts, or if a student has a lot of energy with trouble focusing, take a 5-minute break in the middle to stretch and move around.