What is your teaching philosophy?

For me, the most important thing is teaching a student to work independently. Far too often, students expect to be given the answer, which will not effectively prepare them for higher-level work.

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

Get to know a little about the student. I have found that students feel more comfortable when they feel like they can relate to their tutor.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By encouraging them 1) to thoroughly look over all of the resources given to them, and 2) to not get discouraged when they do not know the answer right away. Practice makes perfect!

How would you help a student stay motivated?

By reminding them of the reward of completing a task. There are far more consequences from giving up on an assignment than there are from trying your best.

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

By encouraging them to take their time and break the words down to better understand them.

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

It helps to get students to understand that the things they learn are things that will help them in the future and, most likely, give them an advantage. I've often thought that certain things I learned were unnecessary until they presented themselves later in life.

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

By making it more interesting and incorporating things they like into it.

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

By always complimenting them on the things they do well in that subject. Often, I find that students think they know absolutely nothing in a certain subject when they actually comprehend more than they think. I have found that reminding them of this often encourages them more to move forward.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I observe their body language while they are completing a certain activity. If I see that they are antsy or nervous, I will incorporate advice or exercises that will help them be more at ease.

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

I adapt based on what techniques the student responds to; if a certain tactic is not working, I keep adjusting until I find one that works for the student.

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

I always make sure that I have a pen and paper. I also bring index cards and markers to encourage students to take more organized notes. Stickers and other forms of rewards work as well.

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

Have them relax by taking a small break (5-10 minutes) and then getting right back into it. I have found that this helps the student clear their mind and shake off the frustration.

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

I am a fan of making up questions or problems on the spot to get an idea of how well the student would do if presented with a new problem. This also gives me an idea of what areas the student needs to work on.