What is your teaching philosophy?

I use illustrations, analogies and daily life experience to help students understand and master math concepts.

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

Get to know the student. I will also give him/her a chance to voice his/her point of confusion(s) with math.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By mostly asking questions and helping the student explore math.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I will help a student stay motivated by making math fun for them. When a student starts seeing result in his learning, this become a self-motivation force.

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

Use different analogies and illustrations to scaffold the concept. If a student has difficulty learning a skill, I will make sure to listen to him/her in order to identify the point of confusion before attempting to scaffold a plan to help him/her master the skill.

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

I help students who are struggling with reading comprehension by putting emphasis on the etymology of key terms used in the reading.

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

Helping them understand why they are doing math instead of how they are doing math. Being a good listener. Using a lot of analogies, illustrations and daily life examples to establish a connection with math concepts.

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

By showing them that they already know a lot about the subject. By showing them how the subject is helpful. By showing them that all complicated concepts are built from simple steps.

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

Formative and summative assessment. Exit ticket. If a student understands the material, he/she should be able to explain it using his/her own words.

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

By helping a student explore and master concepts that he/she didn't understand before. Once a student understands why he/she is doing a concept, his/her confidence will get stronger and stronger.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

By listening to him/her. By reading and analyzing his/her works.

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

I can't give someone direction to a destination if I don't know the actual location of that person. I will spend time listening, talking to a student and analyzing his/her work before putting a plan to help in place.

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

Notebook, computer, textbook and visuals.