What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is to help others with their fields of study by learning what works best for them. For example, if they are a visual learner, then a tutor or instructor should focus on providing the student with more graphs and images that help fully understand the topic. It is very hard for students to learn, but it facilitates the process when the session accommodates their struggles.

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

In the first session, I will try to build a relationship with the student and his/her parents. This connection is very important because the student will feel more comfortable and safe in an environment like this.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

The best way for a student to become a strong independent learner is to give them tips on how to succeed in multiple classes instead of just one. If they learn how to be great test takers and more comprehensive learners, then the tutoring process can focus more on the material instead of the ability to take exams.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would try to convince students that their most important job is getting better grades. From my personal experience, I have learned that the best way to stay focused and dedicated is to treat school as a career instead of a burden.

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

I always try to simplify the topic as much as possible for students. No one is capable of knowing everything about everything. However, if you can try to eliminate answer choices or make the problem less complicated, then your chances of learning more increases exponentially.

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

Students that struggle with reading comprehension need to know that they are not the only ones that struggle. In my past, I struggled strongly with reading comprehension, and it made me get very frustrated. If the student knows that it can be accomplished, then they will work hard to make it easier on themselves,

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

In my past work, I have found that the best strategy for working with struggling students is to pinpoint the source of the struggle and tackle that first. If the student cannot do a problem because they cannot understand what it is asking for, then the tutor should be responsible for teaching them how to read through questions first instead of diving into the conceptual knowledge first.

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

The best way to get a student excited about a subject they do not like is to relate the topics to something they do enjoy. For example, if a student struggles with trigonometry but loves baseball, then the tutor can come up with problems that include baseball terminology to engage the student.

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

During a session, I try to focus the first 75% of it with the material and sample questions that I would work through with the student. At the end, I try to let the student try some harder, test-like problems on his own to see if he grasps the ideas without my help.

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

To build a student's confidence in a subject, a tutor must give instructional criticism instead of any negative feedback. Negative feedback will only deter the student from the work instead of motivating him to do better and succeed.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I try to evaluate a student's needs based around conversation and the first few problems we work. Either a student will vocalize his weaknesses, or the tutor should be able to pick up on them very quickly in order to maximize the efficiency of the session.

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

Since everyone learns and teaches in different ways, it is hard to be perfect for every client. I try to adapt to the student's needs instead of continuing my methods because it could ultimately confuse the student even more. It is easier to change your teaching style than for your pupil to change their learning ways.

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

During a session, I try to focus the materials based around what the student already has through schoolwork and assignments. If the student needs additional problems to work, then I can muster some practice problems for understanding. In the end, it is best for the student to focus on the problems that will be needed for his class instead of generic problems out of a practice book.