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

A typical first session will involve getting to know the student and his or her needs, in addition to some diagnostics to understand where the student is at in their content area. Ideally, by the end of the first session, I will know what motivates the student and what areas to begin working on for the next session.

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

Helping students to be engaged and excited about their studies is important! I've found that making connections with the content and what the student is interested in outside the classroom, they will be more motivated to work on more difficult tasks.

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

To make sure a student fully understands a topic, I use open-ended questions based on Bloom's Taxonomy of learning objectives to judge where their thinking is. If a student can remember, understand, and apply their knowledge, they will be better able to move forward.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Independent learning comes with practice, and it's important to build this skill as early as possible! I guide the student very closely while they are learning new information, but as they become more familiar and more proficient at a subject, I begin to relax my supervision. Eventually, the student is able to work completely on his or her own, without even realizing that my role changed!

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

Reading comprehension is tough, especially for early learners. Fortunately, there are many different strategies that can be employed to help a student gain this skill. Depending on their needs, the student may need help practicing reading for comprehension, or breaking apart passages to better remember and understand important concepts.

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

A student's confidence in a subject is built over time. I find it important to help the student identify specifically what and how they are doing well with certain topics. Self-efficacy is when a student is able to do a task, and knows that they can do that task well. Helping a student realize their current level of proficiency and showing them how they've improved over time is crucial to helping build their confidence!

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

Everybody learns differently.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Student motivation is important, especially in today's constantly interesting world! Academics often compete with hobbies, extracurricular activities, and entertainment. To keep a student motivated, I participate with the student in brief breaks from work, like breathing exercises, moving around, or playing a short game. Additionally, it's important not to work beyond the student's current ability level.