What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe students learn best when they enjoy what they are learning. Therefore I try to make my lessons fun and informative.

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

On my first session with a student I like to sit down and discuss with him or her, and possibly his or her parents, what they feel their strengths and weaknesses are and where they would like to improve.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I teach a student how to solve a problem not just what the answer is. I go through the solving problem process so that later a student can work through a question on their own.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I try to point out the student's strength so he or she feels confident, which helps keep the student motivated. I also like to emphasize the student's improvement.

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

I make sure that I return to that skill or concept each time I tutor, even if it is just for a few minutes, until both the student and I feel confident about the subject.

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

When helping a student with reading comprehension, the best way is to go through short texts. Have the student pick out what they think the key topics are. Compare it to what the actually key topics are, and discuss the word clues or syntax that can lead a student to find those ideas.