Matthew

What is your teaching philosophy?

I try to get to the root cause of why a student is struggling with a particular subject and attempt to then get the student to understand what he/she is doing wrong and how he/she can fix it.

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

In a first session I would want to get to know the student. What does the student need help with? Why? What are the student’s goals? Interests? Then I would want to get an idea of the student’s ability and learning style.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Walk the students through problems step by step and until the student can then walk you through problems step by step themselves.

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

I would try to come up with alternative methods to explain the concept. Often there are better ways to explain concepts in simpler terms or through analogies than the "textbook” way.

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

When first starting, I think it is best to have the student start working through the material on their own, discussing aloud their thought process as they go along so I can get to know how they are approaching the material.

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

I've found that most subjects can be made infinitely more exciting if you can make them relevant to that student’s particular interests. It isn't always easy, but often connections can be made.

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

Requiring the student to prove that they can repeat back the material in their own words or solve the problems on their own without any assistance.

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

Practice.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Cast a wide net and see where the problems lay.

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

I try to make the material relevant to the individual student's interest and tailor the methods to their learning style.

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

A lot of pen and paper, websites/images if helpful, depending on the material.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Remind them and provide anecdotes of the importance of persistent effort in school.