What is your teaching philosophy?

Teaching is an art; one that requires passion, dedication, love, and a good sense of humor.

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

I'd probably crack a really corny joke... but once we get down to business, I'll ask a student about their learning style and how they like to be taught. Then there would probably be more jokes.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I'll encourage you to ask questions. There are no dumb questions; if you don't know, you must ask. And I turn questions back around to you. I encourage you to share your thinking process: "What do you think? How would you answer?" I'll share with you my thinking process: "Okay, well, I though about it this way..." There are definitely wrong answers, but you won't know what the right ones are if you don't give it your best shot.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I'm excited about teaching, and will not be deterred by frustration. We can have fun; let's laugh. If you need a brain break, I know plenty of quick refocusing activities. And anything can be turned into a game.

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

Relate the topic to the real world, to your life. Or, let's try a metaphor that you can't resist remembering. That saved me in my college chem course!

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

Before jumping into reading whole texts, I like to have students read "tweets." We start by reading actual tweets from Twitter, and then turn our assigned texts (books, articles, etc.) into tweets. We take it 140 characters at a time.

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

Being as honest and open as possible, to establish trust and build a relationship.

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

We can turn learning into a game, or switch up our classroom. Let's go outside and see if we can find our schoolwork in the real world.

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

Practice tests and flashcards have always worked for me. I also test through real-world application.

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

You become the teacher, I'll be the student. Teach it back to me to grow more confident.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Practice tests, quizzes, and how well you can explain concepts.

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

Everyone has a different learning style. We will try to assess that in the first meeting. And I am always open to switching up my teaching methods (I do have a full bag of tricks).

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

Worksheets, whiteboards (if available), and a computer (if needed), but really, I'm into pencils and paper...and of course, fun props.