What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that to teach others effectively you have to create an environment that makes students want to learn, not because they have to, but because they are truly interested in the topic. Having fun and working hard are the staples of a good classroom.

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

In a typical first session with a student, to build rapport, I might tell them about myself, my interests and what I like about math. I'd ask the student to tell me about themselves and what their interests are in and out of school, as well as what their favorite/least favorite subject is and what topics they tend to struggle with.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

To help a student become an independent learner you need to show them not only how to do something, but the thought process behind it. Metacognitive skills help students become independent learners.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

To help a student stay motivated I would show them how much progress they've made toward achieving their goals, and remind them that it is important to be persistent because you won't get everything right away in life.

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

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept I would try alternate methods to help them understand it. Sometimes it helps to go back to the basics of a topic or even the previous topic to show how they are related to each other.

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

An effective way to help students who are struggling with reading comprehension is to have them write a sentence summarizing each paragraph they read. This makes them carefully consider what they are reading and decide what is most important.

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

When first working with a student it is important to build rapport, make a personal connection, find out where they excel and where they need help.

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

To build a student's confidence in a subject, start out with basic concepts they understand and build upon them. Many times students become overwhelmed with certain topics within subjects. If you can show them it's simply an extension of something they previously learned and understand, it will help to boost their confidence.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

To evaluate a student's needs, I believe the most important thing to do is ask the students themselves. Another important way is to have them complete some practice problems to see where they excel and where help is needed.

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

I adapt my tutoring to the student's needs by finding what type of learners they are, where they excel and what their academic interests are. It is then important to tailor the learning experience in a way that is effective for them.

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

During a tutoring session the materials I typically use are practice exams, workbooks, calculators, lectures, YouTube videos, visual aids and games.