How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By teaching students to break the problems into recognizable chunks of material.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would break a problem into more manageable pieces. We would work on success on these. Then little by little we would increase the challenge, checking for understanding and success each time.

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

I have years of experience recognizing students' weaknesses. I would learn where they are struggling, and then design question that address those struggles, and lead them to more confidence and more complete understanding.

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

I help them break down a sentence into its two or 3 most important parts. Then we would do this for the paragraph, looking for links between the sentences. Then we would make sure each paragraph is understood.

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

I get a feeling for their class, their teacher, how they feel about their position in the class. I watch how they approach the material and what common mistakes or worries they might have. Then we work on strategies to succeed.

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

If I break problems into simpler components, it is easier to succeed. Then we build the difficulty level, checking for success each time. With success, students become engaged.

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

I will create similar questions for the topic, varying one small aspect at a time. With each variation, I check that the student has grasped the importance of the change and can deal with solving it.

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

If we create questions that slowly build on the complexity of a subject, then the student has the chance of success. This will build confidence and willingness to learn.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I watch the student attempt a problem. I have seen most every misunderstanding or error in solving problems. So I can recognize needs quickly and create strategies to correct and strengthen student learning.

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

I can think of many real life examples for problems, and create examples that might fit a student.

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

I will create problems based on where I see the student progressing. Once I work with the student, I can determine what kind of problems and materials to design for them.

What is your teaching philosophy?

To try many different explanations and strategies while we look for the one that works best for this student.

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

I will talk to the student about the class in general, what he/she feels about, and any worries or anxieties. Then we create our strategy for success.