What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that each student is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring, and stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. It is my desire as an educator to help students meet their fullest potential in these areas by providing an environment that is safe, supports risk-taking, and invites a sharing of ideas.

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

I generally will ask questions to get to know them a bit better, such as their interests (do they like to read? play sports? what are their goals?) and then build on those positively as we move into assignments.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Positive feedback and encouragement is key. I will often leave the student with an assignment or suggested work to complete for our next session together so he or she can show me how skilled he or she has become with that item!

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Again, encouragement is key. Students can easily lose interest if they are discouraged, so offering them incentive, even just praise, can go a long way to keeping students on task and feeling good about themselves and the session alike.

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

Try explaining the item differently! Show the student how to do it, display a similar concept, read it out loud, or have the student do that item or a related one himself or herself to practice hands-on. These methods reach the varying types of learning modes.

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

Practice, practice, practice! Have the student read out loud to me, then ask the student to explain back in his or her own words what was just read. Ask the student what he or she thinks of the reading. Would he or she have done the same thing as the character? Why or why not?

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

Talking! Getting to know them as people and letting them know a bit about me as we learn together. Staying on task is key too!

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

Let them see how the subject is important in their own lives or how it will correlate to concepts for their careers or future goals. Writing, for example, can be used in almost every career possible, so let the student see that and how it works!

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

Pop-quiz (have the student write an impromptu essay or response to a question), or practice the skill to end our session.

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

Praise and positive feedback. Let students know what they are doing right!

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Ask questions, review previous student work, ask the student what he or she feels uncomfortable or confused about.

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

It would depend on the student's needs. Concepts can be explained in a variety of ways, so much can be changed to keep students on task as necessary.

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

Pen and paper are a must! Books, flash cards, dry erase markers and boards, and any student materials.