What is your teaching philosophy?

I want to work with students to understand how they learn best and tailor the experience to their needs. I'm an aural (hearing and speaking) learner, so I love talking through problems and asking questions, although I also enjoy mapping things out visually, finding more evidence or articles to read, and finding new, creative ways to explore topics and material. If a student can't connect with the material, they won't learn it effectively.

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

First things first -- we should get to know each other a little! I want to know what your student is interested in (in school and in their free time), what they enjoy, what they struggle with, how they usually approach a challenge, and how they would like to improve. After that, we would get to work and start figuring out strategies that work best for each student.

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

One of the best ways to check on a student's comprehension is to see if they can teach it back to you. I'd ask the student to explain the material or the technique back to me in their own words, as well as ask my own clarifying questions to see how deep their understanding goes and where their learning edges are.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

First of all, I want to have a candid conversation with the student about their needs, what they want to improve, and what challenges them. Once they can explain in their own words where they think their needs are, I would like to see some of their past homework or assignments and see where they tend to have difficulties or make mistakes. That way, we can develop a concrete strategy and path together that works for the student and simultaneously incorporates their growth areas.

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

Tutoring is all about adapting to students' needs. If your student is an aural learner, like me, and loves to talk through problems, questions, and solutions, we can talk away. If they are a visual learner, we can map out the steps we need to take, or a timeline, or a web that demonstrates connections between concepts. Creativity makes learning fun and accessible.

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

Confidence is something that each student has innately, and for many students it just needs to be unlocked. Confidence often comes with knowledge and certainty. Building skills and abilities will build confidence.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

The strategies and techniques that we develop together should always be methods that students can adapt to use on their own and be successful when they're working independently. I want students to have a toolbox of strategies that they can draw on when they're approaching a challenging subject.