What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is that everyone learns differently, and I want to figure that out.

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

In my first session I try to make it a priority to get to know the student. If they get comfortable with me, they are more open to learning material.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I am always challenging the student to take the reigns. I will let them make mistakes and then see if they can figure out how to correct those mistakes. If they can correct the mistakes, then I reinforce their thought process with tricks and tools. If they cannot correct the mistake, I will give them examples so that they can apply it to the problem.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

It usually will depend on what the student needs to be motivated. If they are down on themselves for not grasping the material, I remind them that the best and smartest people in the world are not the ones that are naturally smart, but the ones that work the hardest. Sometimes that hard work isn't shown in a grade, but I guarantee it will pay off in the long run.

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

I tell them: "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." Math isn't very complicated; in fact, anything complicated is commonly just a whole lot of simple things built up. If you can break those simple things into bite size pieces, it is downhill from there.

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

I typically will let them read it and try and explain it back to me. If they cannot, I tell them to make notes that will help them with their understanding (even if those notes read, "I don't know what [word] means"), or try and guess what the word means and look it up.

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

The first step I always take is get to know what the student is most interested in. After that, I try to apply the material to match their interests and how it will apply to them. The second step is to figure out how they think. I have helped students that have had such unique ways of thinking of problems, and I don't discourage them, but encourage them. I will, however, challenge them if their thinking will be flawed down the road.

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

Give examples and stories. I have had a 100% success rate telling examples and stories that will help the students learn. I had a student get motivated to do well in math so that he could become an astronomer, because I explained to him some simple concepts of physics and the definition of infinite.

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

It comes to a simple idea that the brain is a muscle, and without exercise your muscle will get weak and forgetful. Therefore, practice, practice, practice. You won't get good at math without working on it. I will sometimes send them worksheets that will be very easy for them to do, but will help them build up that muscle.

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

Everyone loves a pat on the back. Everyone loves to find that place to put that puzzle piece. It feels great. I celebrate when they grasp a concept they have been struggling with. They already feel good about themselves when they begin to grasp the material, but when they make little victories, I will definitely praise them for it.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I typically ask them what they feel like they are struggling with. If they say that they don't see any issues, then I give them an evaluation test, or I look at their homework, quizzes and tests with them.

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

One of my biggest strengths is figuring out how people think. For example, if I tell you "dinosaur," what comes to mind: the picture or the word? This can help me figure out if they rely more on visual learning or need to see things written out with in words. Sometimes they are neither (I have had people give me some interesting answers, such as "neither, I think of the concept of dinosaurs and the theory of evolution.").

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

The best tool ever is a paper and pencil. If I am teaching about fractions, I will tear the paper apart to make it into fractions. I have always kept it very simple because it forces me to always be thinking and being innovative with my explanations.