What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy begins with a strong educational foundation. I have been fortunate enough to receive higher levels of education which I am eternally grateful for. Now, when I have the opportunity to teach others, I believe in laying strong foundations as well. The amount of time material has to be repeated with a client or explained in various ways to grasp comprehension does not matter to me. Once I commit to a task, especially academic, I like to see it all the way through. In general, especially when the subject is historical or social, I like to consider topics from as many worldviews as possible for a better understanding.

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

Appearance is an important factor to me, so I would start by dressing neatly and being well groomed. I would introduce myself to the client and his or her family and attempt to get to know the client outside of the school subject I would be helping in. Then, I would tell the client a little about myself and answer any questions that individual might have. I would then ask about how the class I was assisting in was going. I would ask questions such as what topics have you been covering, what seems to not make sense, how you are taking notes and staying organized, and what important dates I should know about like upcoming exams. I feel confident offering advice about how to stay organized and how to be a good note-taker, if that seems to be a struggle. Then, if it is homework I am assisting with, I would want to see where the client stands as far as working through problems or answering questions so I know if it is a fundamental understanding that might need to be clarified or just working through problems in better ways.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help a student become a better learner by learning about the qualities that student is already good at and encouraging those qualities. I would want to see how the student takes notes and organizes papers or upcoming test dates to see if I could make suggestions or provide new ways to do such things. I would want to teach the fundamentals of whatever topic the student was learning so that student would feel better prepared to apply that knowledge to any set of problems he or she might encounter. I want the student to feel confident in navigating different academic situations so stress or anxiety do not become negative influencing factors.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated in a number of different ways depending on the situation. I would hopefully meet with that client regularly. I would possibly be helping that student achieve tangible goals. Personally, I always feel motivated if I achieve goals or have goals to work towards be it homework, a good grade on a test, or other goals which I assign to myself. If meeting with the client regularly, it would be easy to see and encourage progress whether it is grade related or in terms of grasping concepts. I would be able to see how that student was doing in terms of organization. If a situation takes more time than some others, then it just takes more time; time which I am always willing to put in. In the rare event that what the student is learning is connected to something that student might want to do, it would be easy for me to point out and explain why what they are learning is important.

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

If a student was having trouble learning a concept, I would try to teach it in a number of different ways in regards to different ways a person might learn. For example, I might talk through something, demonstrate the concept, let the student repeat what they have learned or let the student work through the problem with only minor guidance from me. Again, I would employ various teaching methods whether they be show and tell, or a lecture style, and perhaps even alternating demonstrations on paper or a white board between me demonstrating followed by the student showing and explaining how they worked through the problem.

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

I think the first and possibly most important aspect would be patience. Struggling through reading can be frustrating for all parties involved. I think flashcards about important terms would be a helpful technique to employ. Also, I think I would want to have open discussions about important topics discussed in the reading or reviewing what had occurred and the meaning behind the reading. This process could be done page by page or chapter by chapter. If I had the opportunity, I would read some of the reading on my own time so that I had the ability to contribute to conversations about important details. When I have struggled with grasping concepts from readings, I think a slow and steady pace is essential, open discussion, and a review of the material that has been read. Meta cognition is important.