What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe my role as a teacher is to help students learn about the world and how it applies to their lives. I learn how my students learn best and focus on their strengths to help them master material. Creativity and fun are major factors in how I teach and work with students.

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

I would get to know the student by asking what their interests are, favorite subjects in school are, what motivates them to learn, and how they best learn. I would share information about myself in the same areas and come up with learning goals.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help students learn problem-solving skills to use when difficulties arise with content material. Also I would help create tip sheets and or flash cards for independent practice. In addition, allowing independent work time during tutoring sessions to practice content would be a part of my strategy.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated by applying the material being studied to their lives, creating fun and interactive activities during the tutoring session.

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

I would ask the student to identify what part of the skill/concept is difficult and find creative ways to explain the material. This would include relating the information to his/her life, finding interactive ways to review/practice the skill and asking the student what would best help them retain the information.

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

First, I have a conversation with a student about the strengths they have for reading and what strategies they know for comprehension. Then I ask what makes reading hard and how we might come up with ideas to resolve this. Furthermore, I like to bring reading material that is age appropriate and includes topics of interest to the student. I use a variety of approaches, including looking up definitions of words unknown to students, reviewing events on each page, and using pictures to help describe a story.

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

Getting to know my student, how they learn and what their interests are help me build rapport and trust with new students. Connecting material to interests and focusing on strengths helps establish a strong tutoring connection.

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

I would look at all the aspects of the subject that the student knows well and how we can strengthen the areas that are more challenging for the student. Talking through where a student gets stuck or has trouble can help identify different strategies to approach the material and how to master the information.

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

I use written, verbal and oral comprehension strategies to ensure a student understands the material being reviewed. The technique we use depends on the material and what strategies are strengths for the student.

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

Practice and repetition can help build confidence. I focus on strengths and sharing success and growth I see with students. I also like to talk with students about what they felt went well during a session, and what information they are confident they know.