What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is that each and every student can achieve mastery of a subject given time and hard work.

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

In a first session, I would test the student's knowledge to determine where they struggle.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I would help the student become an independent learner by not feeding them the answer. I would help the student think through difficult questions, developing this habit so that they can master they subject on their own.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I believe that any student can stay motivated simply if they gain the confidence. Once confidence is gained, whatever the student is learning seems less burdensome and more rewarding. So, I would keep a student motivated by trying to bolster their confidence, while also reminding them how far they have come and how much they have learned.

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

There could be several reasons why a student would have difficulty learning a skill or concept. One, the student needs a break. I would take a couple minutes to discuss other things besides what we are learning. Two, the student learns a different way then I am teaching. I would adjust my teaching method, use different examples, perhaps write out steps or verbally explain steps to see if this helped the student. If neither of these methods worked, I would encourage the student to review this section on their own. Perhaps given more time reviewing the material, the student will be able to conquer the difficult concept.

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

I would encourage the student to think about what they are reading. The hardest thing about reading comprehension is connecting what's being read with prior knowledge. It can be difficult connecting the word apple with an actual apple. I would do two things. I would encourage the parent, depending on age, to read a story to their children. At an older age, I'd encourage listening to audiobooks. Also, I would handcraft stories with mini pictures above each word so that the child understands what each word is.

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

I believe that when you start, you need to understand strengths and weaknesses. The most general way to do this is through testing. I would offer a test to see where the student is. What general areas need improvement, and where the student has mastered the material?

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

I would help the student by encouraging them through the process. I would introduce games and material that wouldn't bog the student down, but would allow student's to learn without the burdensome daily grind.

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

Repetition, repetition, repetition. Every two weeks, I would make sure that the student remembers the previous material. Perhaps this would result in a take home test or simply going over a few concepts. But I would ensure that the student not only understands but gains mastery in their subject.

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

I believe a student will gain confidence when they realize how much they have improved in a subject. I also believe that each student is brilliant. Each and every student who comes to me is a genius. They simply do not know it. In a sense, my job is to help the student find their inner genius.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Students will have different needs depending on their personality. Some need a rigorous schedule to keep them on track. Some need encouragement. A lot of it would be determined when communicating with the student and student's parents.

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

There are different ways people learn, visually, auditory, and kinesthetic. I would adjust my style of teaching to adapt to how the student learns.

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

I would use a variety of materials. Textbooks, practice problems, possibly other inventive things. Computer games involving the subject. Whatever material helps the student learn, I'd be open to using.