Joseph

What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that teaching should focus on building skills that will help students in later courses and in their careers. I hope to not only help students learn their current material, but also find within them the tools and strategies that will best allow them to grow and learn in any setting.

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

During a first tutoring session, I would love to spend a few minutes just getting to know the student -- their interests, academic standing, specific needs or concerns, etc. I think it is important that the student and I develop a relationship of trust so that we can work together efficiently moving forward.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Tutoring is not about aiding memorization of a specific set of information -- it is about helping students figure out what study skills work best for them and giving them the tools that they need to succeed. I will work with students to identify the areas that they struggle with and those that they excel in so that we can build study methods that will benefit them both within sessions and independently.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Everyone has a different experience staying focused and motivated. If a student struggles to stay motivated, I will always attempt to talk them through the bigger picture -- maybe a test doesn't seem like a big deal now, though perhaps it could impact the classes they are able to take later on. Staying motivated within sessions is all dependent on pace and content, and I will work to build tutoring plans that are not monotonous and that allow the student to explore ideas in different ways.