What is your teaching philosophy?

Start where you are and work up from there. Setting unrealistic expectations from the get-go usually decreases confidence rather than building it.

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

Start at what they know, talk about what they'd like to know, and then plan for how we're going to get there.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I teach and demonstrate, and then allow the student to practice. We evaluate the practice, then try again. I'll teach again if necessary.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Tell jokes.

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

Try to relate it in a way they can understand.

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

Patience!

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

Get to know their style; everyone thinks a little differently.

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

Relate it to a topic they enjoy. Once the connection is made, we can start to make progress.

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

Mini-quizzes, discussing the concepts, and reviewing tests.

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

Point out their accomplishments!

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Start from ground zero, and then work up.

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

Don't force your own learning style on others; be flexible enough to do what's best for the student.

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

Markers, notebooks, and example problems. I steer away from big textbooks.