What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe everybody can be anything they want to be; you just have to help them believe this.

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

First things first: icebreaker time! I will definitely use a good 15 minutes getting to know each other and see the type of interests he or she may have. From learning his/her background first, I could make my next session more personalized with his/her interests.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I help by letting the student know that he/she can trust his/her skills. Students first need to develop confidence in themselves to feel like they can actually learn. A lot of students believe they cannot learn by themselves--they have to be taught everything.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Rewarding the accomplishments is one way!

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

I would try to understand what this difficulty is. Is it a basic concept that was never polished in the past? Is it the way I explain my method? I will try to listen carefully to what he/she feels the problem really is and find a solution accordingly.

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

In the past, I mentored middle school kids and had some cases where reading comprehension was an issue. I would sit down and help them practice conversational skills. I would ask their opinion on a specific idea or ask them to tell me a story every day. These activities helped them visualize situations and retain content, increasing reading comprehension skills.

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

Play a game that we both know targeting today's lesson-- Bingo for example. Another game that I choose to play usually is possible if we decide to meet at a library or a bookstore. Games are a great way to keep students actively learning and constantly motivated.

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

Applying activities relevant to their interests. Finding resources and articles that arise their interest, initially. I also find it very helpful disclosing my own personal struggles while in school. When students see that everyone, even their teachers/tutors had, a weakness in their academic path just like them, they can relate to the teacher and feel more inspired.

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

Flashcards, pop quizzes, and some memory game.

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

I praise his accomplishments, reward his discipline and effort (maybe with a candy or a special offer to his favorite concert if he is older), and ask him to teach me something related to the subject.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

By looking at the student's scores, quizzes, tests, homework assignments, and understanding the type of personality the student has. By understanding what kind of student he/she is, I know how to help. Some students are A students; not everyone struggles with trying to pass a class. Perhaps the student needs more motivation or an outside perspective of his/her current performance. Tutoring is a very individualized discipline, and therefore every student will have a different need.

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

I level down or level up my lecturing of the student's situation. If I feel like the student is fairly independent, I challenge the student with harder content or exercises. If the student is rather shy and dependent, I help build up the confidence by breaking down the activities to the simplest they can get to decrease anxiety.

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

In the past, I have used textbooks, especially if the student has his/her own textbook. I try to stay consistent with the material of his/her class. I also use online sites that offer great tools for teaching, including YouTube videos and specific math sites.