What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that a student has the ability to learn anything as long as they are motivated.

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

Get to know the student, and learn more about them as a person. Allow them to get to know me. Identify their strengths and weaknesses. Set goals for our sessions.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By teaching them how to think through a problem or question, encouraging them when they are down, and supporting them when they needed.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would keep them engaged by finding something they are interested in. Also, I would use words that are encouraging and celebrate small wins.

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

I would be supportive and offer a different perspective.

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

Find stories they are interested in to help.

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

Communication is key. It is helpful for both the student and I to understand each other and have clear goals and expectations.

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

Make it a game with rewards or competition. Find unique ways to teach a subject.

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

Practice problems, quizzing, and asking them to teach a concept back to me.

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

One problem at a time.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Talk to the student and parent, if available. Also look at past grades. Then give an assessment to see where they are starting from.

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

Understand how the student learns and what works best. Pay close attention to how a student responds to different techniques.

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

Practice problems, the textbook if available, reference materials, and a whiteboard.