What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that teaching is a two-way street; both the student and the tutor explore the subjects together, allowing for a conversation on what inspires the student. Genuine intellectual exploration is the best way to master a subject.

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

At our first session, we will set goals together, brief the materials already given, and take a brief assessment.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By learning how to break down the problem or question into broad themes that facilitate well-informed deductions, students become empowered to use what they already know as a base from which to explore the ever-expanding world.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

When a student feels overwhelmed, it helps to step back from the big problem and break it down into manageable steps. When you can check off steps on a list, you can gain momentum to carry you through to your goals.

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

I would simplify the skill until we reached a level where the student was comfortable. From there, we would break down the steps needed to get from Point A (comfort zone) to Point B (skills goal). Often when students encounter a difficulty they can get frustrated, so I would make sure to not push too hard on one day: one step at a time, one day at a time!

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

Reading can be frustrating, especially when the subject material is dry! I would talk to the student about what they're interested in, whether it's football or Star Wars, and then I would find readings on multiple reading levels that are related to that subject.

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

It can be hard to be excited about a subject if you can't find any meaning in what you are studying. Connecting difficult subjects to real world topics that the student actually cares about it can give purpose and enjoyment to studying.

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

I find it most successful to inspire cross-subject connections with my students. Being able to see the big picture helps study inspiration!

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

Repetition, in the form of short questions after every new subject is introduced or reviewed, is a great way to both gauge material retention and give a confidence boost to the student.

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

I would eventually have the student create their own practice test. Give them the opportunity to figure out what is most important in the subject and make them feel in charge!

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Honest conversation with the student about their goals, as well as consistent feedback via "Do Nows" at the beginning of the tutoring session that are a few questions long that cover material from the previous session. It gives me a sense of how much they retain and where we should take the next session.

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

Anything from the "real world" is invaluable in tutoring, because it reminds the student of why they're learning these things in the first place! Newspaper articles, news clips, music, anything!

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

By using "Do Nows" at the beginning of the lesson and varying my techniques (reviewing homework vs. introducing new ideas etc.),this allows me to track and see which techniques work best with my student.