What is your teaching philosophy?

I try to help students understand basic underlying concepts rather than having them memorize information whenever possible. This gives them the skills necessary to solve a wide range of problems rather than just specific problem types.

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

I would first determine the knowledge level of the student so that I would know what I need to explain and what they likely already know. It can be frustrating for students if they are being taught things that they already know.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

General logical thinking skills can be taught to the student so that they know how to approach problems in the future on their own.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I know that it can be difficult to stay motivated in a subject which one dislikes, so I try to make the subject more interesting to the student, perhaps by giving practical applications in everyday life.

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

I would remain patient and try to explain the concept in a new, intuitive way.

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

First of all, I try to be particularly friendly so that the student can become comfortable with working with me. Secondly, I assess the skill level of the student so that I have a basic idea of the level of instruction which they need.

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

I would explain how the subject can apply to their everyday life. This is especially the case with scientific concepts.

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

I would ask the students questions as I taught to be sure that they were understanding the material.

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

I would start with easy problems that they could certainly solve, which would increase their confidence.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I would start with a simple test to see what areas they understand and what areas they still need help with.

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

I can use different tutoring methods depending on how students learn best. For example, some people learn more verbally, while others learn better with pictures.

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

I mainly use practice tests, as well as sample problems from textbooks.

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

Some people learn better visually than they do by reading, so I would try to use diagrams and pictures to accompany the readings.