What is your teaching philosophy?

Students learn in many different ways. Just because they don't understand subject material taught in one manner does not mean they won't understand it looking through a different lens. My philosophy is to try different approaches to teaching the material until one of them clicks.

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

I would like to get to know the student. I think that teaching is often futile if there isn't a relationship built on mutual understanding. I'd like the student to talk to me about how he or she learns best. Once that understanding is there, we can move on to the material.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help a student become an independent learner by developing strategies based uniquely on how that student learns. Education is often painted in broad strokes, hoping to find one technique that fits as many students as possible. Tutoring is unique in that we have an opportunity to find a tailored approach based on the student's skills and needs.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated based on his or her own goals. Some students genuinely want to learn, and others simply want to get a good grade. I think that by being honest about what the student wants out of his or her education, we can find the motivation that is already there.

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

I would go about it in different ways, relating the subject to something less abstract, rephrasing the inquiry, or working at the foundation. Teaching isn't a one-size-fits-all profession, and there are dozens of ways to tackle one concept.

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

If a student is struggling with reading comprehension, it's usually due to a lack of familiarity with the subject matter. For example, if I'm reading a published physics study, I won't retain a lot of that information because I'm not that familiar with physics. Talking about the text in a way that is relatable and builds upon existing knowledge means that the student can actually grasp what he or she is reading.

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

The key is to find something in the subject that makes sense to the world in which the student lives. Learning grows outward, and as such, students needs to be able to root what they learn to what they already know.

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

Quite simply, from the ground up. You focus on what the student knows, not what he or she does not know, and then incrementally build from that.