What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe in active learning. During my teaching sessions, I explain concepts but also give opportunities for the student to "teach back," and discuss the topics at hand to ensure that the concepts are properly grasped.

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

Find out where the student is, where problems are, what particular references are being used, and the student's background generally.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By ensuring that the basics (building blocks) are firmly in place before moving on to explore higher level concepts.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Regular communication, discussion of topics, flashcards, and mock quizzes.

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

Make sure the basics have been mastered.

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

Go back to the basics and master those skills. Also, break it down into smaller components.

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

Being patient, finding out where the student is academically.

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

Find alternative ways of presenting materials/concepts.

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

Mock quizzes, discussions with student.

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

Making them realize what they already know and going from there onto harder concepts.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Talking to the student.

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

Finding out the student's struggles and dealing with those. For example, going slower for a student that has comprehension difficulty, or using visuals for a visual learner, etc.

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

Paper, pen, illustrations online and in books.