What is your teaching philosophy?

All students can learn; my goal is to find the correct motivators to help them enjoy it!

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

I would ask the student to describe their strengths and weaknesses as they see them. I would also consider a diagnostic assessment, to be used as a stepping stone and planning tool for future sessions.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I like to have them explain the problem to me as we go along, and if they ask an important question, I ask them to hypothesize about the answer, and if they're still confused, I ask them to suggest additional places they can look for information.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I believe positive reinforcement and encouragement help students stay motivated through difficult concepts.

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

I like to re-teach the concept one time, do a model example, and then have the student walk me through an additional example before attempting a problem independently.

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

I ask them to annotate and underline key information. I might then ask them "what do you think you are being asked to do?" I also like to have them re-word the question in a way that makes sense to them and still ensures they are seeking the correct information.

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

I have found that note sheets, graphic organizers, and video tutorials have been helpful for my students.

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

I like showing them how the concept might relate to something in the real world they're interested in. For instance, sports, or movies, or album sales.

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

I would ask them to teach me! I might also involve parents or siblings and ask the student to demonstrate what they've learned to a third party.

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

Encouragement, and a reminder of where they've come from, as opposed to reminding them of what is still left to accomplish.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I ask the student to self-evaluate, I look at work samples, and I would give a diagnostic assessment to help me form my own opinion and ideas about what the student may need from me.

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

I get to know the student so that I can decide what methods will work best and what they respond to. I also ask them and the other people involved in their lives how I can best assist and motivate them.

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

Typically, I would see myself using a laptop, PowerPoint, worksheets, calculator, graphic organizers, pencils, loose-leaf, and graph paper (if necessary), depending on what is being taught or practiced during the session.