What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is student-centered learning. I prefer when the student discovers the answer or process to when they are just told a formula. I believe if you can develop confidence in skills students already have, they quickly build on those skills.

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

I will find what their need in the subject is, and if there is an immediate need. I would always like to work on building a relationship with students. I would like to know what they want to do in their future. It also helps to do direct learning when I can find materials to interest the student.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I help students become independent learners by asking them questions, so that they I discover the concept. I also show examples in a step-by-step format to build a good learning foundation.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I help by encouraging students to build on their previous success. I try to make small successes into big success. And if all else fells, I use candy. :)

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

I would listen to where they are struggling and then try to fill in the gap. I would do this by trying different ways to explain the problem based on their personal learning styles.

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

I break down the math related words to translate them into symbols. This is also a way to build the equations from the word problems.

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

I like to find where they want tutoring. I try to find their personal learning style. I also want to know what their goal for the tutoring is.

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

Ask a lot of open-ended questions. Have the student "teach" me how to solve the problem.

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

I build confidence for a student by having a beginning concept, and then step by step adding difficulty until the process will work at all levels.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I listen and watch how the student approaches problems. I use formative assessments through questions and examples.

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

By being flexible and willing to stop pushing through a subject if the student is still struggling.

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

I would first use a student's text or program they are working on. If there were a specific problem, I would create practice pages and show step-by-step processes.

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

I would try to tie the subject into something they are interested in. Or something they want to do after high school.