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

During the first session with a student I like to ask them questions. I want to know not only what the immediate assignment is, but also what the student's personal goals are regarding the assignment and their writing in general.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I help students become independent learners by teaching them fundamental reading and writing skills. I also push students to come up with their own solutions and encourage their critical thinking.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

One way to I help students stay motivated is to remind them of their goals. Every difficult assignment or life challenge we face can help us learn something we can apply to future circumstances.

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

When students are struggling with reading comprehension, I take them through critical reading strategies such as how to make inferences and ask questions of a text.

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

When I start to work with a student I have found asking them questions and getting to know them helps set a positive working foundation.

What is your teaching philosophy?

I let my students know that I can’t teach them everything they’ll need to know for every writing situation they’ll encounter, but what I can do is help them develop their critical thinking and reading skills. It’s not uncommon for students to think that they’re not “good” writers. As a tutor, my aim is to dispel this idea while also helping students achieve their academic goals.

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

I try to explain the skill or concept in different ways, as well as give students different ways to practice it. I also try to break the concept down into individual parts so that students can understand and feel comfortable tackling each component.

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

I try to help the student find a positive about the situation. Even a challenging subject can provide a helpful learning experience.

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

I like to give students informal quizzes, as well as have students tell me what they have learned during our session.

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

To build a student's confidence I provide encouragement. I remind them, and help them remind themselves, of what they do know.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

To evaluate a student's needs I start by seeing what the student believes is required of them versus what the assignment prompt says. I also ask the student what they want to work on, and what they believe their strengths and weaknesses are.

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

I adapt my tutoring style by listening to the student. If I find that what I'm doing isn't working for a student, I try to find a new way to explain the material. I also ask students how they learn best and try to meet that need.