What is your teaching philosophy?

My educational philosophy is that a student must summon curiosity and commitment to find value in knowledge gained. The educator must do all in his or her power to enable curiosity exemplify commitment so the student can succeed. When this relationship is fruitfully realized and multiplied among a community it can only be to the collective benefit of that community.

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

In general, I will aim to present a calm demeanor and evidence of content mastery to gain the trust and faith of the student.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can construct lines of questioning related to both the learning of material and the act of learning itself with short and long-term goals in mind. Sharing these goals with the student serves to motivate the student to seek out a greater level of independence and ownership in his or her learning process.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Reminding students of long-term goals with extreme mindfulness of the importance of allowing the student to 'blow off steam.' Sometimes we have to step away from material to more effectively tackle it when we return to it. I would let the student's lack of motivation crash out for a few moments when appropriate only go reestablish it with a renewed vigor.

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

I concentrate on identifying what steps have helped the student learn in the past when a student demonstrates frustration in learning new material. I then try to guide the student toward making connections between past success and current challenges in his or her mind.

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

I remind students that difficulties in reading comprehension are normal. I will repeat material to a certain point; being careful to tread lightly on the border between efficacy and annoyance. More importantly however, I will emphasize the importance of connecting the unknown with the familiar in the student's existing knowledge.

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

I look students in the eyes and treat them as I would treat adults whenever I deal with them on an individual basis. Beyond that I ask what of a subject he or she already knows.

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

I point out constant reminders of progress and share my own excitement while always trying to make positive connections between material in the subject and content that the student is already familiar with in a positive light.

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

I like to reword questions and present them in various contexts to make sure that students are effectively comprehending material.

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

I give honest assessments of progress so that when my enthusiasm and praise is given, the student knows that it is legitimately earned.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

A student's needs can be established with basic material questions, presentation of grades earned in school and conversations.

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

I take criticism well and I remain flexible at all times. I have always been quick on my feet and I have no problem discarding my preferred teaching methods if other methods are proving to be more effective.

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

I will typically use a blend of discussion, source material evaluation, reading assignments and visual aids where appropriate.