What is your teaching philosophy?

I like to use the Socratic method, and a combination of examples and theory. I also appreciate bringing in outside references and other subjects, like history, where applicable.

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

Introduce myself and let them know I am a human being just like them. Try to understand their weaknesses and what they want to get out of the sessions. Start small and see what I can do to make the biggest impact.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Discussing good techniques and habits. Demonstrating effective questions to ask yourself when you see an unfamiliar or difficult problem.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Let them know that success does not come to those that do not work for it, and that if something is hard, then you should be even more proud for achieving it.

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

Provide as many examples as possible. Try to come at the problem from another perspective to see if that has a better effect.

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

Teach them how to identify the important details from the problem and reduce it to its essential components.

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

Asking questions, and the Socratic method.

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

Try to show them the cool, real-world applications of the material.

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

Quizzes are effective. Rhetorical questions are good. Asking them to paraphrase their understanding to me as if I was their younger sibling or another student in their class is great, since teaching something gets you to learn it even more.

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

Start them off with easier problems, and work their way to the harder ones. Let them know that perseverance is the most important thing.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

My observing their work and asking them about what their weak spots are.

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

I try to identify their interests and see if I can relate the material to things that they may want to do later in life when they go to college.

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

Whiteboard or chalkboard, scientific calculator, paper, and a straight edge (geometry).