What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that everyone should read more, because reading affects all areas of learning. Reading helps math, science, history, and especially English! Taking time to read up on subjects teaches more in depth than just doing the bare minimum.

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

Evaluate strengths and weaknesses. What they would like to get help with, and also find areas they're already strong in. To get a sense of what they're good at helps with how to approach things they need a little extra help with.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Guiding them to an answer is much more efficient for learning than telling it to them outright, even if it takes more time. If they can get the answers for themselves with guidance, they will start to get them without guidance. That's what a tutor is there for: not to give them an answer, but to show them to way to get the answer themselves.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I believe in a system of rewards, and that not reaching a reward is punishment enough. It's easy to get disheartened with punishments, and then rewards lose charm. However, if they know that a reward is waiting, or just the disappointment of no reward, they try harder.

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

Figure out a method to relate it to something they already get. If they are a visual learner, draw it out. If they are a verbal/audio learner, either put it in words or say it aloud. Relating it to something they already get is most effective.

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

Patience is key always. Set up a smaller section for them to tackle, and then add to it. Huge reading comprehension sections can be daunting, but starting small and getting bigger can make it less so.

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

Assessing strengths and weaknesses is more important, and figuring out how the learn quickest. Some people are visual learners, some prefer to write things down to remember, and others just need to listen and hear the words. Figuring out the ways a student learns what they're good at, and applying the same method to areas they need help in, is one of the best techniques I have found.

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

Relate it to areas they don't struggle in. If a student does well, they enjoy something more. If it can be related to something they enjoy, or can be related to their life rather than seem academic, it will become much easier to understand and learn.

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

Testing is the easiest way; not long testing, but quick examples that make sure they truly understand. The more practice a student gets at applying knowledge they have gained will make it stick.

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

Always be positive. There are positives in every negative, so focus on those. If they understand one concept, but are confused on another, praise them for the one they know. Then, we can apply the ideas of the first concept to the second to make it easier.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Practice questions; see where they excel, where they need work, and figure out a way to work both. For example, SAT Prep; the most important start is a practice test to see where they already fall. Do they score high in one, and low in another? Low in both? High in both? What types of questions did they get incorrect? Text analysis? Algebra? Geometry? Grammar? Finding out what exactly needs help is important, because it would be silly to spend too much time on things a student excels in.

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

Figure out what way is best for them. Do they need to look at pictures? I'd draw it out. Do they need to read? I'll write the lesson down to make sure they have it. Do they just need to listen? I'll make sure they tape the audio for the lesson so they can go over what we discussed. Finding out what works best, and running with it is the best way.

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

Practice test books. I believe practice is the most important thing. Grammar guide books are also very important. Going over basic grammar technique will score much higher on tests, the SAT, Essays, College Essays, etc. Well written papers are important, almost as much as conveying the content within the paper.