What is your teaching philosophy?

My concept of teaching coincides with what I believe is education. From my perspective, educating is shaking up the inner potential in a student. I believe we all have the answers but the questions are not being asked to bring out those answers or inner potential. Questions ignite discovery to knowledge beyond information taught solely in a classroom; previous knowledge a person has can help enhance what is being taught. I ask questions of my students to know how much prior knowledge they have about a topic or concept. Sometimes they already know something about that particular subject. If they do not have prior knowledge, then I give a definition and present an opportunity for the students to relate on their level of comfortability. I believe an important aspect of teaching is to instruct based on what is relatable so that students' potential may be acknowledged by all. In addition to asking questions, I also teach based on learning style. Students are one of three types of learners: visual, kinetic or auditory; they may be a combination of the three. I find that learning style is critical to understand because it helps me to know how to deliver information to my students. Providing visual aids (i.e. power presentations or movie), conducting hands-on activities and listening to ideas of everyone in a class are styles of teaching I utilize for effective instruction. Knowing students' learning style helps them to understand the information I present as well as cater to their learning needs.

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

Get to know the learning style of the student and their interests in order to deliver the best tutoring service. Knowing their learning style helps me to know the student's needs and how to deliver the service.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help students become independent learners by doing the following: Share skills that encourage good study habits Encourage students to ask questions Encourage student to seek help beyond the classroom

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated by connecting their interests into the lesson or tutoring task at hand.

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

If student has difficulty learning a skill or concept I would teach it to them according to their personal interests.

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

I encourage students to highlight the text and underline words they may not understand. Then I would go over the words or concepts they do not comprehend.

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

Getting to know the student according to their learning style and subject interests in school.