Rachel

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

I would like to get to know the student in order to figure out the best strategy for approaching each problem. A student's personality can greatly affect his/her learning style.

What is your teaching philosophy?

I firmly believe that each student requires a different teaching style, and it is my job to cater to the student's learning techniques by exploring various options. A motivated, hard-working student always has the ability to succeed; it's just a matter of finding the right way of learning!

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

It is important to guide a student to answers rather than telling them the answers. Teaching should be a two-way discussion, and it is necessary to stay away from lecturing.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I will do everything in my power to make each subject taught engaging by comparing it to real-life situations. Changing up the types of questions and pathways to answers can always be adjusted in order to keep the student interested.

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

I would find the specific concept that the student is struggling with and help to provide a slowed-down explanation, and then have the student work through various practice problems, with help if necessary.

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

The student should first read the question being asked and then go back to the passage in order to highlight the parts of the passage that are needed to answer the question. I recommend underlining important sentences and taking notes on the passage.

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

I find that using visual and interactive ways of teaching allow a student to stay involved with his/her learning. I also believe in guiding a student to the right answer rather than simply telling them.

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

I would connect the subject to everyday events and cater to the student's interests. Also, fully understanding a subject can help make it feel more interesting, rather than struggling through a subject and despising it.

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

I believe in providing many practice problems and asking the student to explain what he/she just learned. Saying concepts aloud and writing them down can help a student a lot more than simply listening to the instructor.

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

If a student is struggling with a concept, starting out with simple questions that the student is most likely able to answer correctly will boost his/her confidence. It is important to ease into difficult concepts in order to avoid frustration.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Asking a student what is specifically making the material hard to understand creates a form of 2-way communication. Breaking down the problem/question into many parts allows for the student to find the root of their confusion.

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

Getting to know the student and discovering which techniques work best for the student can help a student feel more engaged. Rather than sticking to one style of teaching, it is important to mix things up during every session and to keep adjusting to the style that keeps the student most engaged.

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

I like to make worksheets and tables for the student to fill out during the session. I also use many visuals and analogies during the lesson to make the material more understandable, especially when learning new material. I also find many different practice problems for the student, along with drawings and figures.