What is your teaching philosophy?

The challenge associated with teaching is identifying how individuals learn. I start out by determining my student's learning style, and then I proceed accordingly. It is pointless to teach a visual learner using an auditory technique. This is the reason many students struggle. Their teachers are not speaking their language.

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

I would engage the student in conversation. It is important to me to have my students become comfortable with me. I want to know their likes, as well as their dislikes. I want them to ask me the questions they don't feel comfortable asking their teachers. My students need to feel they can talk to me without fear of judgement.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help a student become an independent learner by advising and reminding them of their resources. We live in a world where information is available at our fingertips - literally. Rare is the student who does not have a cell phone with a search engine on it. I would remind students they can access any help they need, any time they need it. In my tutoring sessions, I would challenge them with questions that require them to search for the information. This is how you build self-esteem in students. With younger students who do not have cell phones, I would make arrangements to meet with them at a library, where we would spend time on computers finding answers to questions.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated by constantly giving them positive feedback. Even if they missed the mark, I would encourage them for trying.

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 continue to teach, using a different method each time. For instance, many times the students who struggle with math struggle because they are visual learners. I would use concrete objects to teach the lesson.

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

I would help students struggling with reading comprehension by having them to work on comprehension one paragraph at a time. We would dissect the paragraph to identify words or terms they might be unfamiliar with. We would review the directions to make sure students are answering the question that is being asked, and following the directions in the process.

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

When initially working with a student, having them to do their work independent of any help from me helps me to determine the exact point of the struggle. I like to ask students exactly why they provided their particular answers. This helps me to determine the student's thought process.

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

To engage a student in a subject where they are struggling, I would have them to translate it into something they do love. For instance, if my student likes poetry, I would have the student do their work in the form of a poem. If the student likes music, I would have the student write a song about the subject matter. Having choices is very important to teenagers and young children, so I figure out ways to give them choices.

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

To ensure students understand material, I have them to explain it to me in their own words. Also, I challenge them to teach me the material, using their own techniques.

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

You build confidence in your students by praising them for any and every improvement, no matter how slight. The student has to come to the place where they believe they can overcome any learning obstacle.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

The first and most obvious way I evaluate a student's needs is to ask them what they feel they need and why. After that, I administer an appropriate assessment to help fill in the blanks.

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

I make my adaptations by first taking cues from my student. Additionally, I would gather information from parents and teachers to insure student's needs are being met.

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

More often than not, I use written materials during tutoring sessions. It allows me to follow the student's processes and gives me the ability to see where student went off track. Also, I will access information online.