What is your teaching philosophy?

All students can be successful in the classroom if they are willing to ask for help when they need it and are also willing to put in the work.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

A motivated student is the student that can see his/her progress on a frequent basis. The student often needs praise and encouragement on a daily basis in order to get and stay motivated. By pointing out what he/she has learned, I can help with this process.

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

Reteaching using a different method will often help a struggling student. Changing learning modalities is often successful. Having the student attempt to teach the concept to me can be a fun, stress free way for me to check for understanding.

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

A diagnosis of why the student is not comprehending will dictate the assistance needed. Many students need support with reading fluency while others are struggling due to low vocabulary. Each difficulty is addressed in different ways, depending upon the needs of the student.

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

Students will become engaged when they feel success. They will also benefit whenever he/she is able to make a connection between what he/she is learning and their personal life. I would help make this connection, as well as celebrate success whenever possible.

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

Frequent checks with the student, asking questions, and observing independent work will help me see if the student is understanding the material. The ultimate test for understanding is when the student is able to teach the material to another person.

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

Confidence is built upon success. When the student experiences success, he/she will build confidence.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Most students will tell you what their needs are if you are willing to listen. Responding with a few well thought out questions and probes will help define the needs more specifically, but most students know where and why they are struggling.

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

It is my job to find the student's strongest learning modality and use that to build success. For example, students who need to have material read to them will explore the differing technologies available in that area. It is important that the student learn which modality is strongest for them, as well as how to adapt while in the classroom.

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

Written passages, discussion, vocabulary exposure, demonstration, manipulatives, and role-playing are all successful approaches to use during tutoring and/or learning situations.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Many struggling students will begin tutoring feeling very dependent upon the adults to define success. As the student feels more and more success, he/she can begin to become more independent as confidence builds. The tutors and teachers can facilitate this process by providing frequent feedback and celebrations of success that are gradually faded out as the student becomes able to recognize this success independently.