What is your teaching philosophy?

I like to get to know my students so I can tailor my teaching style to fit their needs. Making a personal connection will only help them learn and grow. They should come first.

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

I would learn about the student. I would try to figure out how they learn best and what areas they needed the most help. I would try to build a rapport so they would feel comfortable with me.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

A student can become an independent learner only when you don't just give them the answers. They need to think and figure answers out themselves, with some guidance from the tutor.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Students need to find what motivates them. Once they figure that out, I can use that to remind them why they need to keep working at it. Finding their interests will help keep them motivated.

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

I would go over the concept with the student initially, then ask them to try it on their own. If they continued to have trouble, I would give them additional exercises and help.

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

I would first find out the environment that they were reading in to see if that was causing the problem. After that, I would have them read the selection a few times and then go over it with them. I would have them keep a dictionary handy to look up any words they might not understand.

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

Getting to know the student first and finding out what type of learner they are is very helpful. Working with them based on their needs and how they learn best is paramount when working with a student.

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

I would try to relate the subject to something else that excites them. I would show them ways the two can fit together so they can see the relevance of what they are learning.

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

I would go over the material with the student and then give them examples to work on. I would have them give me their own examples and ask them questions about the material to make sure they had synthesized it.

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

Positive reinforcement is the best way to build a student's confidence. I typically use the sandwich technique of starting with a positive, then discussing any problems they have, and then finishing with another positive comment.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I look at each student individually and find what works best for them, through discussion and trying different methods, until I find the one that seems to hit home with them.

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

I first need to know the problem areas, find out how they learn best and then tailor my instruction based on that information.

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

I like to use links to websites, PowerPoints and videos to help me with lessons. Seeing something laid out can be a tremendous help.