What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is that you cannot be afraid of failure; it is an undeniable part of life. Once you accept that failure is an option, you are free to do and be the best you can be without worry. It is only then that you can become your greatest.

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

In a typical first tutoring session, I would get to know the student a bit more. What are their likes and dislikes, what they struggle with and what they succeed in. I would find out what they specifically want to work on in their subject of choice. Having a good base makes the rest much easier.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help a student become an independent learner by teaching them to rely on their own knowledge and talents to succeed. I would remind them that it is THEIR efforts that produce the grade, just like with anything else in life. Your actions create individual successes, and that is so important to realize. I would assist them in creating the personal tools they need to learn on their own that would help them not only with the subject they need help in but in all their school work.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Motivation is a very personal topic. Some people become motivated on a reward basis; others feel a happiness from results that gives them the desire to keep up in their good work. I would see how the student reacts to different types of end options, and see which one would keep them most motivated. From there, I would use that motivator to keep them going.

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

I would try different types of learning techniques, from written explanations to talking it out step by step to visual demonstrations.

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

For students who are struggling in reading comprehension, I would ask them to read with me and break down the passage section by section. Through this, it is easier to identify key themes/ideas in the passage. This will help in addressing the prompt or answering the questions successfully. For that, I would have the student return to the passage and go over it again for the correct answers.

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

I have found patience and understanding to be the two most helpful strategies in working with students. If you cannot understand where they are coming from and why they are struggling, how can you expect to help them? By talking things out and seeing where the specific issues lie in the subject they are being tutored in, it really improves the quality of the time together. Being patient through practice problems and in sessions also improves tutoring performance.

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

I would get a student excited/engaged by trying to relate the subject matter to something they enjoy, or something they have a better grasp on.

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

Techniques include: 1. repeating questions to make sure they know the answer; if you just ask once and move on, they may temporarily have the answer but it might not stick. 2. practice problems; these are definitely a must. As they say, practice makes perfect. 3. talking out work; by talking through problems and getting a better understanding for both the tutor and the student it creates a better environment. 4. going at a good pace; not everyone learns the same, and certainly not at the same speed. Being attentive to how fast or slow a student needs to go is very important.

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

By starting off with simpler problems or questions that I know they can answer successfully, I would build their confidence. By the time they'd get to the harder material they would be more willing to take it on and study harder, therefore achieving better results and gaining even more confidence!

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Talking is the most important factor in any relationship, even tutoring. By talking about the student as an individual and how they perceive the subject, I would be able to find their strengths and weaknesses.

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

I adapt to students' different needs based on a few factors: age, skill level, and enthusiasm to learn. By individually assessing each of these areas, I can adjust my pace and vocabulary to fit them perfectly and help them in the best way possible.

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

I use notebook paper, a textbook (if accessible), flashcards and sometimes games (for younger students).