What is your teaching philosophy?

Every student learns in a unique way to them. I work with students to learn how they learn and adapt my teaching style to help the student learn the best way possible. Passion is infectious! I love math, and I love to show students that math can be fun!

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

I will introduce myself first. Then I will ask students where they think they need help. I do an internal check to see where they are at in math, and I back up to help lift them to where they need to be. I try to put them at ease by letting them get to know me so that we can come together for learning in the best environment possible.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I always encourage good study habits. I try to teach each student how they learn and, in turn, how they can help themselves learn along the way. A big part of that is just giving students confidence in their ability to solve problems and conquer complex situations. This goes a long way to becoming an independent learner.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Mainly showing students that math is fun! I always try to show students real-world applications for the math they learn and try to open their eyes to how much math is used by everyone every day!

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

First, I would try to break through their fear of the problem because a lot of the time, they shut down because they don't think they can solve the problem. Second, I go back to the basics and work toward the problem at hand to help them see the problem in a new light.

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

Breaking the ice is a big part of working with a new student. When they get to know me and start to trust me, they learn much quicker and easier. Getting past the nervousness is the first step!

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

I try to slow students down and break down the key trigger words in order to show the student when to pay attention to key details. I would go through the entire reading assignment step by step, making notes. Once that is complete, I would show the student the notes and explain the content of the reading assignment. This way, they will become better at paying attention to key details and become an independent reader!

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

I love to relate the material to everyday life in a fun way. I break down the topic to the basics and work up from there. The first step in getting a student to be excited about the subject is to build their self-confidence with the materials. Once that happens, the floodgates of excitement can be opened!

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

I continually test the student to see where they are at and what they understand. I work on the weak areas by walking them through a problem from start to finish, and then letting them do a problem while I watch and guide them.