What is your teaching philosophy?

For many years I posted in my classrooms the following motto: "Math is all around, but to see it you have to know it!” I believe it and teach Mathematics to open the eyes of students to our intricate reality. I teach for that flicker in your eyes when you just discovered something new.

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

Get to know the student's background, history of his mathematics classes, his interests and passions. Then we would discuss the needs and goals that the student has from these sessions. Also, we would find the current level of the student in relation to mathematics.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Improving one's confidence and showing the value of independent study in increasing mastery of mathematical skills.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Continue to have the final goal in mind and also create reachable milestones that reinforce motivation.

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

Present the skill or concept differently; use a Frayer model, compare to known concepts or relate to easier skills, break down in simpler steps…

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

Create vocabulary sections in the study process. Require conversations / presentations that use new, difficult concepts.

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

It vastly depends on getting to know the student, the skills or concepts that the student needs to master and the level / motivation / involvement of the student.

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

Present it as simple, solvable, and breakable into easy parts.

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

Checking for understanding, modeling, student teaching, independent practice.

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

Confidence in key to a positive attitude towards mathematics. Visible progress increases confidence.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Data collection is the most important factor in evaluating one's needs. Pre-tests and post-tests identify improvement, missed skills and mastery.

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

Constant feedback from the student drives both progress and the approach to tutoring method and depth.

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

As much as possible, materials that the student is familiar with and that the student is using in his regular study of mathematics are supplemented with materials that simplify some topics and reinforce acquired skills. They can be online resources, collected resources over years of teaching math or adapted resources to fit the particular student's needs.