What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy encompasses the individuality of the student and the ability to empower him/her by providing the tools to be successful independently. Critical-thinking skills are such an important aspect of education and of life in general, and helping students gain those skills is incredibly rewarding.

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

In a typical first session, before we start working on the subject matter, I like to get to know my student as an individual. What do you like to do for fun? How do you feel about school? What are your favorite subjects? What motivates you? What makes you feel successful? This will help guide my tutoring session, as well as give the student a sense of comfort knowing that they are valued as an individual.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Questioning, or "motivational interviewing," as it is sometimes called, is a great tool for giving students the skills to be independent. Rather than giving a student an answer, this is a way to help them find the answer on their own with simple prompting and guiding.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Knowing the student as an individual has so much to do with his/her motivation. As important as school success is, it is not the only priority in a student's life, so understanding his/her needs, concerns, and interests goes a long way in education-related motivation.

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

I would go back to the very first step necessary for acquiring the skill. Taking a pointed, step-by-step approach can reduce frustration, as well as give the student small opportunities for success. This makes it easier to grasp further steps involved in learning a skill. Knowing how the student best learns is also important to guiding their instruction.

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

Asking questions throughout a passage is a great way for the student to tune into the passage as they are reading it. This trains the student to ask themselves questions as they read silently to themselves. Since one of the best ways to learn is to teach, the student can also practice asking the tutor questions about the passage as the tutor reads aloud.

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

Getting to know the student as an individual, including interests, motivations, likes, dislikes, etc., assist in guiding instruction for a particular learner. The student knows best in regards to what helps them learn, so being responsive to their requests and understanding their learning styles are great ways to start off a tutoring relationship.