What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is that success is possible when a student commits to the process, does their best, and earns the grade.

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

Get to know the student. While the subject is universally the same, no two students are.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I will help instill a sense of pride in them with regards to their academic work. When a student cares about doing well and earning the grade, they will become an independent learner

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would remind the student of what they are working towards. Keep their eyes on the prize.

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

I would take a step back to find the root of the misunderstanding of the concept. You simply cannot heal a wound without knowing where the wound is.

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

Make sure students aren't speed-reading. Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast. Attack one page at a time and understand everything they just read before moving one.

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

Put the problem in words the student understands. When helping athletes in math, I put math problems into sports terms so it makes more sense.

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

Simply make it fun and be encouraging. Encouragement along the way helps build confidence and makes the student believe in themselves.

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

A student knows the material when they can help others understand it. When the student can tell me in their own words what we are working on, that is when I know that they've got it.

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

Give them a few easy examples to help understand the basics of the concept, and build confidence before we dive into the more difficult aspects.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

By asking them questions about what they feel they do well with and what they need help with regarding a certain subject area.

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

By seeking to understand their needs and build on what they do know, it is easy for me to be understood when I am offering help in a subject area.

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

I put a heavy emphasis on practice problems to help students familiarize the ways in which knowledge of a certain topic can be tested.