What is your teaching philosophy?

All students are able to learn even the most difficult of subjects, given patience, time and professional instruction. Tutoring students is an ancient art of instruction and necessary for all successful people! Tutors are the tools for successful people and should be looked upon as mentors to success.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

By helping them achieve their goals and being able to connect the subject matter with their needs/desires.

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

Give it more time and approach at a new angle. I have done this many times and have had great success.

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

Practice, Practice, Practice, and to have students verbally explain what they have read to me so we both are on the same page as to what was read without any misunderstandings.

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

Strategies I have found successful is to have a student model what I describe and/or show. To have them think through the solution and have apply this to a new situation.

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

Connecting the subject to their personal interests and letting them achieve success.

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

Question and answer. I also have past tests and quizzes I can use as practice to reinforce the material and better prepare a student for their test they might see from their classroom instructor.

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

Success building through practice and application of concepts to the real world.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I evaluate the student’s needs by finding out why they need tutoring services and approaching my lessons to help students see immediate success.

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

My lesson will be based directly on what a student needs to achieve quick success

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

Pencils, paper, calculator, textbooks and once in a while my personal computer. If doing a lab, I will bring portable lab materials to complete a lab.

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

We get to know each other and I am able to learn about a student’s strengths and weaknesses. I look to find what they hope to achieve through tutoring and find ways to meet their needs with quick successes.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Learning to trust their instincts, ask the right questions and gain the skills to problem solve any situation.