What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is to help students grow into an appreciation and genuine interest for the material. In a tutoring session, my goal is always to hear the student speak the material as much as possible rather than me simply lecture them on what they should know. As they communicate the content they already know, they build confidence, and I am able to incorporate new, unknown material into the schemas they already possess.

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

I would like to hear from them their background in the subjects we are working on as well as the goals they are trying to achieve in this subject. Next, I would see if the student has any previous knowledge of their learning style. Lastly, I would see what part of the subject or standardized test most worries the student. I would then give them confidence that they can succeed in that subject if they follow my lead. Then, time permitting, I would have a few confidence boosting problems to work on in that subject ready to work through together.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I will help students learn independently by working with the student initially to organize the content and practice problems that need to be completed by our next tutoring session. By planning extensively on the front end, students will always have short-term goals to accomplish independently. During our next tutoring session, we will go over any problems the content presented.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would constantly remind the student of their long-term goal as well as work to help them reveal how important and interesting the subject matter is.