What is your teaching philosophy?

A good student can learn anything! It just takes time, a positive attitude and the right teacher!

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

I think getting to know a student is important. What works? What doesn't work? What are the student's strengths? What are the student's weaknesses?

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Sometimes students need one-on-one assistance, but students also need to work through concepts learned during sessions. As a tutor, I would encourage the student not only to attend tutoring sessions, but also to complete work on his or her own.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Learning has to be challenging as well as fun!

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

First off, I would make sure my instructional pace was appropriate. If the student seemed to be still having trouble, I would take a break from that particular concept and return to it at a later point.

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

I would encourage the student to take one sentence at a time. Reading for meaning involves a conscious effort on the part of the reader!

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

Getting to know the student and his/her strengths and weaknesses early in the process can really have a positive effect on performance and outcomes.

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

Sometimes having a student think about the practical applications of the material can make learning seem more important and relevant to everyday life.

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

Techniques and strategies should be somewhat dependent upon the student in question. However, flashcards, mnemonic devices, and short quizzes can all be used to determine if a student has grasped a particular concept.

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

Remind a student of what he/she has learned! Compliment the student and remind the student of his / her progress.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

It always helps to ask! That said, some needs are not always voiced, and short evaluations can help to determine where more work needs to be done!

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

Pace, depth and breadth of instruction can all be adjusted based on the student's needs, aptitude and appetite for learning the material.

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

I have mostly used material given to me by the tutoring service or the students' schools.