What is your teaching philosophy?

Learning is about understanding. It's so much more than a single test, or bubbling in the correct circle. When a student understands why a subject is important or what its applications are that makes learning more powerful and makes knowledge stick beyond the next test.

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

A first lesson is about assessing the current situation. What do you know? What don't you know? Where would you like to go with this subject? We'll create a plan tailored to your unique circumstances to help you reach your goals.

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

I check understanding of the subject in a variety of ways including: - have the student explain the concept or answer in their own words - short quizzes at the end of each lesson - open book and closed book homework assignments - require that students show their work in their assignments

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

While most people would like to become an expert overnight, it's important to realize that it's ok to not know everything all at once. Getting better in any subject is mostly about spending more time working on it. That math whiz in your Algebra class got that way by doing lots of work on math outside of school. You can do the same by spending time on whatever subject you want to get better at.

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

Every student is unique. Some love flash cards, others find them useless; some respond well to pop quizzes, others don't. Adapting to the student is a constant and ongoing process in which we keep the things that get results, and toss out any strategies that don't.

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

Often students struggle because they don't think or understand why a course is important, and that can make it very hard to want to do well. Being able to give a broader context for why it's useful to learn a subject often helps motivate students.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

At the first lesson I give a quiz to help determine each student’s strengths and weakness. And each lesson I begin with a review of the homework to check up on how these needs are being met.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I've found that students stay motivated when they know they are making progress. It's important to both challenge a student, but also to make sure you give them work they are capable of completing.

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

There are many different ways students can struggle with reading comprehension. Some strategies that help are more effective underlining, and working on how to take notes.

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

I use a variety of materials including prep books, my own worksheets, and the online platform's quizzes and practice materials.