What is your teaching philosophy?

No student is unteachable, and not all students learn the same way. Finding what works for each individual student is key to overcoming any difficulties grasping the material.

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

Find out what her interests and goals are to establish some commonalities, then find out what she likes or dislikes about the subject and work from there.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Focus on the "yes I can" instead of the "I don't feel like I can," and keep building the "yes" list.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Focus on the positives and accomplishments thus far, instead of strictly highlighting the difficulties.

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

Try to pinpoint which specific concepts are difficult, and switch up the method of delivery to accommodate.

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

Dissect the passage to try and build a larger context of the story. Identify who/what is the subject, object, actions, feelings, etc., to paint a big picture of what's going on in the passage and give students a bigger mental picture.

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

Building mutual respect right away, and trying to inspire the student to learn because they want to, not because they have to.

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

Find ways to apply the knowledge to things outside of the classroom, and make the material relevant beyond just getting a good grade.

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

Ask questions in different ways to make sure they can think about it in a holistic way, versus a linear "this is the answer to this specific question" kind of way.

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

Highlighting all victories, no matter how small, to show that improvements are happening even if it doesn't feel that way.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Asking questions and making students draw their own conclusions to pinpoint where the confusion or difficulty lies.

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

Communicating and not being afraid to try something new. Learning about the student's interests beyond the classroom is also key, so I know what gets them excited and inspires them.

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

Flashcards, textbooks, YouTube videos, games, and snacks.