What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that curiosity is the foundation that helps foster a love of learning. I believe that every student can learn and has the potential for greatness inside of them. I believe that providing motivation, a listening ear, patience, and progressively difficult challenges will catapult students to heights that they never imagined.

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

I would begin by asking questions about where they see themselves presently and where they hope to see themselves by the end of a month. I would ask how they feel they learned best. Depending on the type of session, I would perform a skills test to assess their needs.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Gave them a solid foundation on the basics, have them explain the basics back to you, and give them problems that prove their understanding.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would remind them of where they began, how far they have come, and that they are only steps away for reaching their ultimate goal.

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

I would think outside of the box; create a game, a song, use a mnemonic device, or a real world example that speaks to their personal experiences to better relate the skill or concept to what they already know.

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

I would start with increasing the student's vocabulary by doing word definitions and using the word in a sentence. Then, I would progress to having them read short passages with the same words they defined peppered within the passage.

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

Teaching note taking. I stress having a notebook that is full of the foundations I have taught them, written in my words and their own, that they can refer to whenever they feel lost or confused.

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

I would get to know the student's interests and create an activity that married both the subject and their interest.