What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that all students have a right to learn. Students should have a caring and respectful environment in which they are comfortable and supported.

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

Get to know the student’s interests and their concerns for the subject area. Developing an understanding for what the student needs and how I can meet those needs.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

You start with the gradual release of responsibility. You begin with a lot of the responsibility, but as the student begins to understand and learn you put them in charge of their learning.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Knowing the students interest is a huge part of that. Understanding what they enjoy and tying that into something that they may not enjoy as much is key in motivating students.

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

Take it back to the basics. Somewhere along the way something didn't click in their understanding. You have to go back to go forward in this case before you can practice and develop the skill. The student has to understand the skill to be able to use it.

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

Students who are struggling with reading comprehension are often struggling to see the big picture. I begin by reading and asking them to recall what they can and what they understand the piece to be about. From there we look at where the holes are at; whether that's the overall or the deeper meaning of things.

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

I find that allowing the student having as much of a role as I do is a good first strategy. Students remember what they do, not what they're told.

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

By tying in their interests to something that isn't as exciting to them!

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

Assessment is a useful tool, but it can come in many forms. It may be watching the student use the skill or concept or it could be a simple check of what they came away with.

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

You start small. Always acknowledge when the student is doing something well. The positive reinforcements build a better image of their ability to do the subjects they struggle with.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Informally, by working with the students to see where their needs are and by asking the student and the parent what they feel the students needs are.

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

I change what I do to be more conducive to the students learning style.

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

I bring math problems and extra paper if the subject is math. For reading, I bring books or short pieces that is on the students reading level.