What is your teaching philosophy?

My goal is to support students in an effort to achieve self-sufficiency. I do this by reviewing concepts and content with students, modeling a variety of approaches to answering questions, and working with students to implement these approaches on their own.

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

I would spend time talking with students about where they are coming from and where they would like to go in terms of short- and long- term goals. I also like to spend time discussing students' study habits and plans (especially for standardized test preparation). It is my goal for students to leave the first session with a clear study plan, including how our tutoring sessions will fit into their broader study plans.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help students become independent learners by modeling various approaches and strategies, and watching students attempt to implement those approaches. I then work with students to readjust as necessary.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help students stay motivated by highlighting small wins and keeping them grounded in the next best thing they can do to reach their goals.

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

I would work with those students in an attempt to identify where specifically the gaps are (e.g., do they lack a foundation for a certain math concept that prohibits their understanding?). Depending on the situation, I would either attempt to work through foundational concepts or tackle the problem through a different lens.

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

I try to identify any root problems, and suggest strategies for addressing those outside of tutoring sessions (e.g., if students are unfamiliar with academic writing, I would suggest publications they can use to build their vocabulary and comprehension). I also discuss active reading strategies with them to help be sure students are comprehending what they are reading and not getting lost in the details unnecessarily.

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

I find it most helpful to have students walk me through their thought process when addressing problems. This often illuminates gaps in terms of content knowledge and helps identify a student's orientation towards the type of critical thinking that standardized tests reward.

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

I try to connect topics to real world problems, and also attempt to bridge the topic with their unique long- term goals.