What is your teaching philosophy?

Student engagement is key. Make learning relevant to the student. Guide the student through a task, don't simply tell them how to do it.

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

I would take a moment to get to know the student, then assess their goals and present level of performance.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Allow the student to do as much possible on his own. I support the student as needed to reach the next level, but I don't spoon-feed.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Review progress periodically. Show the student how he has progressed, and give him a preview of what is coming next. Discuss how this progress may contribute to future success in and out of the classroom.

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

Try a different approach. One size does not fit all.

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

I work with these types of students on specific reading skills such as figurative language, main idea, context clues, and inference.

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

A quick chat with the student is a good way to start. I'd like to know what the student would like to work on, and a little about the student's prior experience with the material. Specifically, what struggles has the student had?

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

Talking a little about the end goal is often helpful. What's the reward for this work? A better grade? College admission? A scholarship?

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

Teachers love questions. I question my students throughout my instruction to be sure that they are on the same page that I am. In addition, I give students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate their understanding through performance. When I see the student independently answer a question, this is evidence that they understand the material.

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

Repetition with success is the greatest confidence builder. After instruction, I give examples for the student to demonstrate understanding. When the student begins to answer consistently and correctly, confidence grows. I provide review opportunities to ensure that knowledge and confidence are retained.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Evaluation of a student's needs starts with asking the student. A performance evaluation is then often helpful. When I see the mistakes that a student makes, I can identify what possible issues might be causing those mistakes.

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

There are usually several ways to get to the correct response and a variety of tools that can help a student. If the conventional approach is not working, I don't want the student to become frustrated. I will try another approach and/or introduce a tool or strategy that may be more successful.

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

The materials I use depend on the needs of the student. If the student already has materials, we will start with those. However, I am able to supplement or start from scratch with other materials. Fortunately, the Internet is full of resources that students can use for free. I like to use the Internet because of the amount of material available and the ease of access. This gives the student the opportunity to continue to progress between tutoring sessions and makes tutoring sessions more efficient.