What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe the most important and useful kinds of learning spring from conversation. I strive to set up a comfortable space where students want to express their opinions because they believe in them and believe the tutor is committed to understanding their perspective.

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

The first session should accomplish two things. First, the tutor and the student should be able to identify what makes the student’s perspective unique in order to strengthen their approach to each assignment. Second, the tutor and student should identify problem areas that need to be addressed with the students individual learning style.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

A student's independence begins with a foundation of confidence. Showing a student where there strengths are and how to rely on those strengths will help them feel more inclined to branch out on their own.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Motivation tends to lessen when a student does not feel a connection between their life and the subject. By broadening a student's cultural horizons they will understand the ways the subject affects their lives and how they can offer something to the subject.

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

I would begin by bringing the lesson back to a foundation that the student does understand so that she or he regains confidence. Next, I would attack the aspect of the lesson that is causing problems from more than one angle to help the student learn the subject from their unique perspective.

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

In our world we place such a premium on speed, but often times deep reading and comprehension takes time and patience. I would show the student that it is OK to take their time while working through the subject and prove that this method will help them in the long run.

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

I have found that finding common ground provides the student with a greater chance to engage with the text. Our sessions will become less about memorizing data and more about sharing experiences.

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

I would try to show them how an understanding of the subject is beneficial to mastery of something that they are interested in learning and doing. I think students would be surprised how much Math has to offer English and vice versa.

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

I believe that using dialogue that is formed freely as though it were simply an open conversation teaches the student to use the material in a casual and personal way that demonstrates understanding.

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

When students understand their strengths and believe they are connecting with the material beyond simple memorization, their confidence grows because an understanding of their abilities also increases.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I evaluate student’s needs through meaningful conversation that takes place outside of the textbook or a teacher's assignments. Here the student presents me with their strengths and weaknesses without the support of classroom structure.

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

When you identify strengths and weaknesses you can adapt lesson plans that begin with a student's strengths and slowly begin to incorporate their weaknesses.

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

The tool I rely most heavily upon is the student's imagination. Their imagination will infuse diagrams, texts and other technological devices with more wonder and power than they may have thought they possessed.