What is your teaching philosophy?

My philosophy as an educator is to provide each student that I work with a personalized approach to their education. I believe it is important to make each student feel comfortable with what they are learning, and confident that they will find success.

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

In a typical first session with a student, I would be sure to initially assess the student's prior knowledge to be able to evaluate where they are finding difficulty. I would also take time to get to know the student's goals, as well as any strengths, weaknesses, and special interests.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

To assist a student in becoming an independent learner, I would help them to take responsibility for their own work. Once a student is feeling confident and finding success, they will become eager to demonstrate what they know. I also find that encouraging the student to take the role of a teacher is a fun way to assist in becoming an independent learner.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated by using what I know about their individual interests and goals to make learning a fun and interactive experience. This would include using different student-centered games, and goal setting to hold the student's interest.

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

If a student is having a difficult time learning a skill or concept, I would try to relate back to something the student has already found success in. If a student is becoming frustrated with a concept, I believe it is best to stop and revisit the topic later using a different approach.

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

If a student is struggling with reading comprehension, I would have them using different methods to recall what they have read. Some of these approaches could include using graphic organizers or webs, drawing details from the story, or retelling the key points of what they have read.

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

One strategy that I have found most successful when starting to work with a student is to allow the student's needs to guide the tutoring session. For example, if a student is having trouble with a given concept, it is best to spend time reviewing using different strategies, but if a student is demonstrating understanding, it is important to allow them to complete different enrichment activities that will expand their understanding.

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

To help a student get excited about a subject they are struggling with, I would relate the subject to something they are interested in. For example, I would engage a student who loves baseball but is struggling in multiplication facts by having them play a baserunning type game that includes reviewing fact families.

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

To be sure that a student is understanding the material, I would use informal assessments to check for content mastery. For example, at the end of a tutoring session, a student could be asked to answer an "exit question" or write a sentence about the content that they have just reviewed.