What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is that everybody has the potential to succeed, and it is my job to unlock this untapped potential, to help students feel comfortable in solving problems, and to adapt to different learning styles to guarantee understanding of abstract concepts!

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

I like to ask them questions about what they think they are struggling with most, then go over generic problems from a variety of themes within the subject. I gauge their interest in the subject, how I can help make them more interested by showing applications of math, sciences, and foreign languages, and try to understand how they will learn best.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I like to teach students how to study effectively, and this is by showing them how to do a problem and then giving them the reigns, per say, and assessing how they go about the logic of the problem.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I help students remain motivated by being optimistic and calm, as well as always maintaining a comfortable environment for them to voice their struggles. I like to remind them of the power of education and how the subject matter at hand is really useful and applicable to real life, whether it is just honing critical thinking skills or actual knowledge for a profession.

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

Patience is my strong suit. I would dissect the issue they are having and directly asses what it is that they are missing in understanding the skill, concept, or problem solving method.

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

I like to remind students to take things slowly and never be overwhelmed. Obviously, it is easier said than done, but this is part of the patience and comfort I provide my students. I go over problems with them, explain and help them understand the readings, and then have the students read a separate problem and then try teaching me.

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

I like to share personal and anecdotal stories of how each subject plays a role in someone's life. Personally, I believe every subject has real-life applications and provides a strong foundation to build upon.

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

I like to evaluate my students with quizzes and problem sets that I make up, and also have them verbally explain to me how to approach a problem or describe complex mechanisms.

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

I build upon a student's confidence by being completely understanding, empathic, and optimistic. I make sure to commend them when doing something right, while correcting them nicely when making mistakes, and reassuring them that making mistakes is how one learns best, and is completely expected and normal.