What is your teaching philosophy?

I think that learning should be more individualized to the student. As a tutor, I make sure to try out several teaching methods to find the one that works best for the student.

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

In a first session I like to figure out where the trouble with a subject is coming from. We go over a range of topics within the subject to figure out where they are having the most trouble, and I ask them if they have anything in particular they want to work on.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Becoming an independent learner stems from making sure the student knows how to study and learn. I would do this by sharing different studying methods applicable for the subject. It is also important to build up students' confidence by starting small and working up to the harder concepts.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I think helping students find the interest in the subject is the first step in motivating them. It is really important to motivate students by giving them innovative ways to learn material.

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

I would change the way I was teaching the material. A lot of times, if you present the material in a new way, they are able to understand it more.

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

Reading comprehension improves when you have the student explain what they are reading as they go. As we read, I would have the student pause occasionally and paraphrase what they just read.

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

When working with students, it I feel like it is most effective to do a question and answer session. That way the student gets their specific questions answered. When we are done, I reverse it and have the student explain the concepts to me.

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

I would try to make the way I am teaching more interesting and interactive. Students become more engaged when they are actively learning.

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

I like to quiz the students at the end of sessions so that I can assess how much they retained.

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

The best way to build confidence is to start small and work your way up to the more complicated material.

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

I always ask the student if they are understanding how I am teaching. If they don't, I ask them what I can do to make it more understandable for them.

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

I like to use the book and notes they have from the class primarily. I then use flashcards and diagrams to go over the material.