What is your teaching philosophy?

My personal philosophy is that education needs to be stimulating in order to compete with the distractions of the modern world. This involves not taking the lazy way out and always utilizing different strategies in order to appeal to the unique interests of the student.

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

I would like to get to know the student so that I can determine what is the best way to address their specific needs. This includes learning their interests, educational background, and current difficulties.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I will make my lessons student focused so that they can learn by doing instead of simply being lectured.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would make my lessons relevant to their interests and employ a reward based system in regard to their progress.

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

I would utilize different strategies and methods, as recommended by the common core standards.

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

I would create a book club between the student and me. I would allow them to pick out a level appropriate book and have them read pages in between meetings. We would discuss the story and overall make the concept of reading a student lead choice, hopefully fostering further interest in reading. After all, more experience in reading will lead to better comprehension.

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

Building a proper rapport is essential to successfully working with a student. With knowledge of their interests and learning styles, I can better cater my lessons to them.

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

I would help show them relevance between the subject and their lives in order for them to see the fruits of their labor. I would also employ a rewards-based system to give them a personal stake in their learning.

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

I would employ formal assessment and questioning to gauge their knowledge of the material. I would alter further lessons based on the results.

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

I would build them up by pointing out the aspects they are performing correctly instead of putting them down for not doing something perfectly.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I evaluate student needs based on consultation with the parents/guardians, formative assessment and questioning, and through constant analysis of student performance.

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

I would employ a different reward-based system for different student interests or hobbies. I would also alter my approach to teaching based on the results of formative assessment or questioning.

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

I utilize a public school system's materials that are aligned with the common core standards.