What is your teaching philosophy?

Teaching is the communication of ideas. Essay writing is a formal way of expressing comprehension of an idea, demonstrating knowledge of a text, analyzing a story, or maybe even creating an informed opinion on a topic. Whatever the assignment, I try to learn what the student is interested in so I can engage them in their work. I assess how they learn most effectively so that I can cater each session to their needs. I help students learn the underlying methods so they are prepared to face similar assignments in the future. I provide a learning environment that can only happen with a personal tutoring experience.

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

I try my best to stay task oriented. A typical first session would start by working on a difficult assignment together. After I determine where the student is in the process of writing the paper, I would assess next steps to push the assignment forward. As we work, I would address any errors that happen, correct them with the student, and then spend time making sure the student understands the reason a mistake was made. From there, if I saw repeated mistakes, we could address these issues specifically and in depth. At the end of the session, we would discuss next steps in the work and address any questions on how to complete the assignment.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

It's very important to understand the WHY of writing, and the principles that guide the clarity of a sentence, or the flow of the words being chosen. It's important to understand how to organize your writing so that you are understood clearly. I would encourage students to take notes as we work and I would give them tips for how to catch their common mistakes.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Whenever you feel overwhelmed, you need a plan. Sometimes taking a break from writing to outline your ideas and taking a picture of the overall goal of the paper can help a student feel that there is an end in sight.

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

I would slow down, backup, and really spend some time going over the concept. I would give the student visual aids to help and also try to create real-world scenarios that would help the student remember and analyze the concept fully.

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

A dictionary is your best friend. I would teach them how to look up definitions. I would spend time slowly decoding each word and then putting those ideas together. I would teach the student the tools available to help with comprehension.

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

I first assess what they would like to accomplish in the session. Then, depending on how much time we have together, I assess what I think we will be able to accomplish and create a plan for our time together.

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

Knowing a student's interests, hobbies, and personality can help me find ways to apply the learning to real world scenarios and examples. If a particular way of working on a project were frustrating the student, I'd try a different method. There's always a way to make the work interesting, many different ways to teach the idea, and enthusiasm is contagious.

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

I always check for understanding after I teach a concept. One way is to create a similar problem, have the student solve it on their own, and check to make sure it is correct. I do this until the student can understand the topic with ease. In later sessions, I may revisit problem areas until the student can remember and handle with ease.

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

It's all about communication. I create an environment that is focused on solutions. I love to pay compliments when a student corrects their mistake or has a great idea. A student's confidence will naturally build as they begin to understand their problem areas and focus on sharpening their skills.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I ask them. It's all about the student for me, and I'm a good helper. If the student isn't happy with the direction we are going, we can always reassess. My job is to empower the student.

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

We use the computer, the internet, a writing utensil, and paper. I have handouts, and informative websites that the student can reference after the session is over. I encourage the student to take his or her own notes because this helps with retention and comprehension.

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

I assess the student's needs at the very beginning of each session. My entire plan for our time together is determined by the student's needs. The longer I work with students, the more familiar I would become with a suitable method for teaching them based on their learning style and past experiences together.