What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that all students are able to learn; some students just need a little more help than others.

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

In a first session, I would get to know the student and try to figure out where they are struggling by allowing them to answer some practice questions on their own, and then reviewing the answers with them.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I believe that the key way for a student to become an independent learner is to give them the tools to think outside of the box and to solve the problems on their own. I would do this by encouraging the student to figure out alternate ways to get answers on their own.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated by giving them verbal feedback and trying to keep tutoring sessions fun through learning games that I feel can help the student learn faster.

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

I would first ask them to explain the steps of the skill or concept, by either writing down the steps or doing a practice problem. Then I would work with them in different ways. So, if I explained it verbally the first time, I would allow them to do it as I explained it the second time.

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

When a student is struggling with reading comprehension, I will ask them to read a paragraph out loud to me. Then, I will ask them questions that I wrote down at the end of the paragraph and have them answer. This will encourage the student to be actively reading and help with their understanding of the context.

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

I would relate the subject to their favorite activity. If a student likes the NFL and they are struggling with math, I would find a way to incorporate the NFL into the lesson.

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

I would want the student to be able to teach me how to do the technique, because if they can "teach" me the lesson, then I know they understand the technique.

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

I believe that encouraging the student to work on a subject that is hard for them will allow them to grow and become more confident. I want my students to understand that not everything is easy, but as long as they give it their best try, I will help them learn the lesson.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I will evaluate students by assessments. If the student needs help with reading, then I would want them to choose their favorite book and read it aloud to me. Then I can take notes about what they need help with.

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

I understand that not every student learns the same way. Some students need to be running around while they work, and others need to see the assignment being done. I will work with each learning style by allowing students to do what they need to do. If the student does not know what learning style is best for them, then I will help them discover their best learning style.

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

I have found it most successful to break down the problem presented and to ask smaller question to find the right answer.