What is your teaching philosophy?

My aspiration and goals as a tutor are what any tutor's goals should be; I want my students to succeed more than anything else. I want them to have lifelong learning skills that promote metacognition, reflective thinking, and problem solving skills that will get them through whatever profession they may be seeking. I want them to be able to critically think themselves through any situation that comes up, and I want them to be well established and intelligent because these are things that will get them far. I want to inspire out of the box thinking, and the ability to find a creative alternative to the standard or normalcy expected from society.

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

Introductions are vital. Before starting in with the topic at hand, it's crucial to get to know each other and set a comfortable ground. After introductions, ask questions to find out exactly where we need to begin.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Teaching healthy and smart study habits is the best way to help students become independent in their learning. Teach the right resources, effective research methods, and how to brainstorm or organize thoughts.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I help students stay motivated by first discovering what matters to them. Many teachers will tell students it's "what they have to do" or that their future success is related to their success in school. Some students aren't motivated by generalized success statements. Therefore, I find out what matters to them and use motivational practices based on their responses.

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

If a student is having difficulty with a concept, I wheel it back. Find a point within their grasp of knowledge and scaffold from there.

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

To overcome struggles with reading comprehension, I begin with pre-reading strategies. Start with vocabulary, visuals that assist with the story, and asking what they already know about the topics. Then, during reading, I ask questions to make sure they understand each of the concepts or vocabulary words within context. Then, of course, post-reading strategies, which involve connecting what we've read to a personal life experience, making it relevant and easier to understand.

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

Scaffolding is the most success strategy I know. Without a foundation of knowledge and a clear pathway of information, the end goal will always be too confusing.

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

Introduce them to why these subjects are interesting. First, find out what the student thinks is interesting, and then relate it to what we are working on.

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

Open-ended questioning is the best way to make sure a student understands the material. I ask them to apply what they've learned to something within their lives or to something they've learned or read before.

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

Helping a student understand a subject will build their confidence. Giving constant and genuine positive feedback when they make improvements and encouraging comments is also crucial.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Assessments are necessary for evaluating a student's needs in any particular subject. Formal assessments and informal assessments are equally important, although informal assessments are better for tutoring sessions.

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

Each student is unique; no method works the same for every student. If a particular method is not working, I slow down, back up, and go through other methods that may fit this student's style better.

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

I try to use more than just standard worksheets and readings. I attempt to hit all types of learners, so I use visual aids, videos, music, and games if necessary.