What is your teaching philosophy?

My personal philosophy of education is a simple one; every student deserves to learn in a fashion that will engage their interest and insight curiosity. In the very diverse world we live in, this manner of teaching calls for differentiation and a deep understanding of individual students' needs. I will also be required to create a comfortable rapport with my students, and to keep an open line of communication with parents.

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

First and foremost, I believe in building a rapport with each student I work with. I would introduce myself, tell them a little bit about who I am and what I do, and then ask them to do the same. I would take this time to ask questions about their favorite activities, their interests, and what they feel they need to work on academically. This will give me a gauge for what type of learner this student is, as well as where they see a need for improvement. Following this brief introduction, we would continue the tutoring session by going over whatever work they need help with, or some practice questions. I would try out several different learning methods (verbal conversation, manipulatives, pictures and visuals, etc.) in order to ascertain which exercise best suits the student. At the end of the tutoring session, I would ask the student to write down a goal they wish to achieve during our time together, which I would save for future use.