What is your teaching philosophy?

I aim to empower my students to face and conquer the most challenging areas in their studies by tapping into their individual learning styles, as well as using methods that encourage active learning. I believe an engaged student has the most potential to become a confident and well-equipped student.

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

During a typical first session, I like to gather information about the concepts my student is currently covering in class and which materials are being used. Then, I encourage the student to freely write a list of concerns, areas in which he or she would like to improve, and specific challenging areas in his or her studies. I would then share my plan for helping my student work towards tackling these challenging areas and achieving his or her session goals.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I help my students become independent learners by equipping them with active learning methods, which they can habitually employ during their individual study time.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Confronting our most challenging subject areas can be intimidating and anxiety producing. I help my students overcome this anxiety and stay motivated by reassuring them that there are no silly questions during our sessions- that our tutoring sessions are the perfect time to address all uncertainties and areas of confusion in their studies. I also reassure them that it is okay to make mistakes during our sessions. I pay close attention to the types of mistakes my students are making when approaching questions, and once identified, I show them useful strategies to help them avoid making the same types of mistakes later. And finally, I try to keep my students engaged by using real world, relatable examples as often as possible.

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

After reading a paragraph, I have the student tell me in his or her own words what the paragraph is saying, as if he or she was retelling the story to a friend. In doing so, we practice summarizing and paraphrasing.