What is your teaching philosophy?

Constructivism, active listening, and clear communication are imperative in the education and tutoring processes. It also helps to enjoy it! I tend to use pop culture and real-life examples to illustrate lessons/ points when teaching, as they are the most immediate and relevant ways for students to learn. The ability to associate classroom theories and principles to real life gives the lessons significance.

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

Get to know their interests-- what they like and don't like. By knowing a little bit about a student, it becomes easier to make the subjects at hand more relatable and accessible.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Rather than straight giving answers, ask questions. Let the student arrive to the answer, idea, or thought on his/her own. This creates self-confidence and independence.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Consistent encouragement is crucial for everyone. Rather than solely picking out all the things the student is struggling with, I would acknowledge the things they are great at, too.

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

Break it down step by step. This differs depending on what subject we're talking about. But providing real-life scenarios and examples always helps to get students thinking in different ways.

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

Practice, practice, practice. Start small before big. Read just a few paragraphs before an entire essay. Encourage the development of healthy reading habits like note-taking and highlighting.

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

Getting to know each other so that the atmosphere is honest and comfortable always helps provide a sense of trust. As trust grows, so does willingness to listen and learn from one another.

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

Making the subject relevant outside of the classroom is a great way to show students the practicality of what they're learning. This can be done by applying the subject they aren't excited about to things they do enjoy. For example, if a student enjoys hip-hop, but is struggling with Romantic poetry, I'd show them the similarities between Kanye West and John Keats. This makes it real to their life and brings the subject closer to home.

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

Asking the same questions in different ways creates a repetition that solidifies understanding of materials and allows answers/ explanations to be explained in various ways.

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

Never be condescending or say, "It's easy!" Empathy and encouragement are crucial, but so also is toughness/ dedication. Starting with the basics to get a firm grasp on the foundation of the subject at hand is imperative in understanding the subject further. By learning the stepping-stones, students will realize that they do know the material, and it really comes to a matter of willingness and dedication.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Look for patterns in their work. What mistakes are made and where? Is it repeated elsewhere? By locating the subtle struggles of a student, I am able to evaluate their needs.

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

Talk "with" the students, not "at" them. Conversations rather than lectures always open up the door to finding out what a student needs personally and how he/she learns best. In this way, I adapt my methodology to fit their needs.

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

Most things can be taught with just a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. However, for more elaborate lessons, computers will be utilized, out-of-the-class examples will be distributed, and the text of the subject will be referenced.