How can you help a student become an independent learner?

One of my main goals is to help students become independent learners. Whether it's helping them discover tactics that work well for them or offering advice on how to fit study time into an already packed schedule, my goal is for students to be able to accomplish their learning goals, even after our tutoring sessions end.

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

In a typical first session with a student, I'll discuss with them what their specific goals are, what they've been having the most difficulty in, what learning techniques they've found to work best for them, and evaluate their current level in the subject.

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

I try to help students get engaged with a subject they are struggling in by relating the concept to something they are already interested in. In math and economics, that might mean putting abstract concepts into real-world examples. For French, I can suggest ways to practice French by doing things students are already interested in.

What is your teaching philosophy?

I try to adapt my teaching style to whatever works best for the student. I use the first session to discuss how the student prefers to learn and test out different methods to see which works for the student.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I always try to remind students that they can do it. Whether that's pass the GRE or a class. All it takes is dedication and a smart approach to studying.

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

If a student is having difficulty learning a concept, I try to reframe it in a way that relates to everyday life so it seems less abstract.

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

When I first start working with a student, I try to find out exactly what their challenge is, whether it's a specific challenging topic or difficulty figuring out how best to study. The more precisely I can identify the student's challenge, the more I can tailor our sessions to address it.

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

I always have students do practice questions after we've covered a topic; that way we can both be sure that they can apply the concept to the types of questions they'll get on the test.

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

I try to build a student's confidence by reminding them that many people struggle at first. Just because a topic is not easy for them at the beginning, that doesn't mean that it won't get easier.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I ask all students to take a diagnostic test before our first session if they do not have a previous test score. I then spend the beginning of the first session going over past tests and discussing with the student what they think their biggest challenges are.

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

Often students struggle with reading comprehension on tests because they don't know how to scan texts for the most important information. I work with students to help them focus on the most important part of a text so they can answer reading comprehension questions more quickly and accurately.

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

For online tutoring I use the online tutoring company's platform. For practice questions, I use questions from the tutoring company's bank as well as questions I've made that supplement the tutoring company's bank.

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

I tailor my tutoring sessions to the specific needs of the student. I will vary the way I explain concepts to match what the student finds easiest to understand. While I develop plans ahead of each tutoring session, I adapt those plans as the session goes along based on the student's needs.