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

I will introduce myself and find out what the students interests are. Then I will let the student explain what they wish to accomplish through tutoring and then let the student know what I can do for him/her.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I give the student time to figure out a problem and let the student explain the steps he/she used to get to the answer.

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

I would make sure that he/she understands the previous concepts well.

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

I will validate every effort that they make and break up the reading segment into smaller pieces.

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

I will make sure that the student has a clear goal in mind and find out what interests the student so we can try to integrate that into the work.

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

I would get a student excited by knowing what the student’s interests are and trying to find ways to relate the subject to that.

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

I would questions and let the student explain.

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

I would build a student’s confidence by acknowledgement of effort and constant practice.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I will look at the student's feedback during sessions and discuss with student/parent what could be helpful tools to add to studying.

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

I adjust the pace and materials I use to help the student learn.

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

Materials used include pens, pencils, paper, study books, calculators, and other helpful study materials.

What is your teaching philosophy?

Teaching is like playing with building blocks. You place one concept on top of the next one in the mind. Each concept needs to be placed firm (mastered), so the next concept can be stable and well understood.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would let the student know that he/she can do it and validate every step forward the student makes.