What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is "educational empathy." I get it! Not understanding something can be incredibly frustrating. It can make a student want to give up. By understanding that frustration and helping a student work through and past it, I help students find clarity, understanding, and the satisfaction of learning success!

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I believe in "learning how to learn." I can help students find their clarity when things look frustrating and confusing, and together with the student, come up with a plan for approaching difficult problems and frustrating situations. That way, when they encounter problems on their own, they have a "toolbox" to draw from and a place to begin.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Nothing is more motivating than a feeling of complete understanding or solving a difficult problem correctly. I don't quit until a student knows not only how to solve the problem in front of them, but also completely understands the concept. Feeling like you "get it" is a wonderful motivator!

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

In accordance with my philosophy of "educational empathy," I would approach the topic or concept from another example. Another tool I have found helpful is to use relatable examples to illustrate difficult concepts in a familiar way. Often students' issues lie not in the problem itself, but how the problem is being approached.

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

Students who are struggling with reading comprehension often benefit from adjusting their perspective on "how to read." Developing note-taking strategies, ways to connect information from the reading together, and re-reading passages strategically can be transformative.

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

I believe the most important place to start when helping a student is to let them know you understand their frustration and that they are NOT alone and CAN do this!

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

I think the best way to approach unfamiliar, confusing, or even "boring" topics is to make them relatable to a student's everyday life or interest. For instance, when talking about economics, perhaps I might relate the concept of supply and demand to a basketball team's roster (if the student was a basketball fan).

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

I believe the best way to assess comprehension is to ask the student the same concept from a different angle. When a student truly understands, they won't be rattled by a different presentation of the idea or a word problem (like they might see on a test at school!).

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

Little victories are everything in learning, and I believe in celebrating them! By emphasizing small successes, I can help students build not only confidence but a desire for further understanding.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Student's needs are best evaluated in two ways. A) by talking to the student and assessing their trouble areas, frustrations, and needs and B) reviewing previous work to see where any "hang ups" might be.

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

Progressively. If one approach fails, I move to the next, or attack the subject in a different way. Everyone (including me!) learns in different ways, and I appreciate that!

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

I believe in the power of a pencil and paper. Sometimes understanding comes from writing things down. For math, grammar, or writing mechanics, I love bringing a personal whiteboard to practice. For more basic math concepts, I will often call on blocks or other topic-specific tools.

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

During a first session, I'll introduce myself and really strive to get to know a student. A brief review of their work and/or discussion of their current level of understanding helps me know where to start. But I don't just want to know where they struggle. I also want to know what they enjoy and love about school, learning, and life! By relating learning to a favorite subject, sport, team, or pet, I can make things more fun and engaging down the road.