How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Make sure that I dedicate a portion of my tutoring time to establishing good study habits for the student. Make sure that the student can relate information back to me in a different way/in their own words.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Ensure that the student always knows how much progress they are making, and that some concepts are more difficult to grasp than others.

What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is that I have not succeeded until my student achieves more than he/she believed possible.

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

A get-to-know-each-other game to break the ice, and a review of session timing, scheduling, etc.

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

I would ensure the student that he/she knows how much progress he/she has already made and that some concepts are more difficult than others. I would ultimately teach the concept in a different way or through a metaphor that the student understands.

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

Give the student reading tips for ensuring that they are able to isolate only the important parts of what they are reading. Perhaps show them annotation techniques for effective comprehension.

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

I have found metaphors to be extraordinarily effective in teaching obscure concepts. I also have found visual aids to be effective when lecture starts to get dry.

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

Show the student a practical application for what they are studying. For example, when studying nuclear physics, you could throw in: "scientists working on the Manhattan project would have paid millions to know about this".

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

I ask the student to relate information back to me in a different form. For example, if I explain Newtonian forces to a student, I don't want them to explain the movement of an object with just F = ma. I want them to throw kinematics equations into the mix to show me that they understand the bigger picture.

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

You show them evidence of progress that they are making in that area. Most often, confidence is lost when a student believes that they are stagnating and not accomplishing anything. All learning is progress, and students need to be reminded of that.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I utilize diagnostic tests to evaluate a student's subject needs. I utilize various types of aids to observe how the student best learns. This helps me figure out the student's learning needs.

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

I utilize different types of learning aids (visual, lecture, etc.). I vary my speed of lecture depending on how dense the concept area is. I observe the student's facial expressions, and ask questions to make sure that the student is following.

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

I utilize an iPad and apps. I typically bring a calculator and some sort of review book, depending on the subject, as well.