What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that everyone should always have the opportunity to learn and nurture their mental growth as time goes along. I believe that every person has the potential to learn, and should have all the tools necessary in order to achieve their end goal. Education is important, not only for each individual but for our society as well. The thing that some people don't realize is that every person is different. Be it their personality, or their habits, everyone is different. One of the differences that many don't always realize, is that every person has a different learning style. Some are visual; some are audio; some are a mixture of both, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I believe that in order for one to excel in their education, they should be equipped with study methods that suit them best. Everyone is different. Not everyone can learn as quickly as others. But that doesn't mean that they aren't capable of mastering a subject. Some take more time, and that's perfectly normal! The main key is patience, and I believe that education and patience go hand in hand.

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

Typically, I would get to know them first and see where they are, and let them know that they should feel free to ask me questions about anything. I want them to feel comfortable and know that I'm here to help as they aren't doing this alone, for this will be a team effort. After addressing the issues with the subject, I would proceed to tackle each problem one at a time and ensure that they feel confident in what they learned by the end of the session.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

There are many ways a student can be an independent learner, but first we have to see what learning style fits best for them. For some, they can simply hear it and retain it. For others, they will need diagrams. Whatever style they may prefer, I would point out strategies that they can use. For visual learners, I would encourage writing everything out or drawing a diagram, or even encourage them to draw pictures if that will help them! If there's a certain thing that helps the student remember the information better, I will encourage it. If they don't know what helps them learn better, then we will explore strategies together.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would constantly offer positive reinforcement and constructive criticism. I want the student to be comfortable, and I establish a common ground with them to let them know that I am not there to make them feel inferior. I found that by simply encouraging a student, and praising them when appropriate, they respond very well. I see an improvement in performance and confidence. If they do not succeed in a task however, I would let them know that it's alright. Mistakes happen, and what is important is that they learn from those mistakes.

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

I would find out what the difficulty is, and work with it. I found that the common thing when it comes to working with anyone who has difficulty with anything is patience. If you give them the time while giving them the information that is needed, they will get it. Not everyone will get everything on the first try, and that's alright.

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

There are many aspects when it comes to reading. Sometimes it's pronunciation, and sometimes it's just understanding the meaning of a word or a phrase. If they need help with vocabulary, I would encourage flashcards. If they have trouble with pronunciation, I would guide them along as they sound out the word, and if possible, use examples.

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

I found that, first of all, establishing a common ground and letting them know that you're there solely for them puts them at ease. As I teach them, I go at the speed that I see that is comfortable to them, and I found that writing everything out or drawing diagrams helps a lot! Not only then, but also when I compare a certain concept to something that they can relate to on a daily basis. Other times, you can make tasks into a game, or you can apply a certain rhythm to it, and that assists in their memory of the information.

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

I would find out what interests them and what they're passionate about, and utilize that to get them pumped for the subject. Honestly speaking, if you make anything into a joke, or you make it funny, students will become more eager to learn it. It'll even help them remember it! If a student is having a good time, they'll tend to remember it better, because truthfully, everyone enjoys a good memory.

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

Positive reinforcement can do wonders. When one receives praise, it lets them know that they're doing well! When you praise a student, and you let them know that mistakes will be made and it's ok as long as they learn from it, they'll be at ease. I found that students that aren't confident tend to let their self doubt get in the way, and they become afraid to explore other strategies and options. I want them to know that a certain strategy is not for everyone, and that there are different ways to achieve a common goal!

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I would evaluate their needs by just talking to them and seeing what areas they don't feel comfortable in. After that, maybe I would offer to go through a few practice questions, and then see what they have trouble with and go from there.

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

I would do whatever is needed in order to accommodate a student's needs. I'm there to help them, and I am aware that different students need different things. I would just ask them what would help them better and what would make them feel more comfortable. If what they request is possible, then I will do it.