Justin

What is your teaching philosophy?

My philosophy on teaching/education is that each student has the ability to learn. It is our job as educators to find what strategies and activities help each student learn the material and reach their highest academic potential.

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

In a typical first session, I will definitely try to get to know the student. I will try to find activities and interests they have along with trying to find out ways they learn the best. All students are different, so knowing what works best for each individual student will help me in helping them succeed.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help the students by teaching and having them try different strategies. These different strategies will be beneficial to them because they will and can act as a toolbox for them. The toolbox can be used and they can pick and choose what strategies work best for them.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I help students stay motivated by bringing an interest in education to them. It is important to relate the content to them in their current lives. Allowing them to see the importance the material has on them will help them keep going and striving for the best.

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

Try different strategies to teach that skill. There is not a right or wrong way to find a solution to a problem, as long as at the end you are getting it correct.

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

Use repeated readings and highlight important detail before reading. Have the student begin to read questions and answers choices before reading. Work on context clues and learning grade leveled vocabulary.

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

Not one in particular because all student are different. We have to find a starting point and work on finding out what works best for them. When we do figure it out, it may look different than the previous student.

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

Try and tie it to their interests. If they can see it's incorporated in things they like, they are more opportune to be engaged with it.

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

I would use repeated practices. I would break content material down. I'd use checklists or steps to have students follow.

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

Start easier, and let them see that they can be successful before moving on to more difficult content/problems. Being right from the beginning is very important.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Based on what they tell me, and based on what I see from their work. I evaluate their needs by the issues they are having with specific content/curriculum.

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

Know the student's interests. Know how the student learns best. Know what motivates/engages each individual student. Not all students are the same, so these things will all be different.

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

Visuals, hands on manipulatives, and extra practice/problems.