What is your teaching philosophy?

To explain or demonstrate every topic in a way that reaches every student no matter where they are at.

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

Figure out where the weak and strong areas are, then set up an attainable goal for our time together.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By coaching students how to ask questions or do their own research into topics they are struggling with. I also like to help students learn to persevere through long and challenging problems.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Positive reinforcement and celebrations of success are a great way to keep any person or student motivated. Always focus on the positive!

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

First I would try to determine what step or part of the skill they are having difficulty with. Then I would try explaining it in other ways. If explaining it in a different way still doesn't help, I would move on to hands on strategies or demonstrations.

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

I have my students read math story problems, then go back through reading one sentence at a time. While reading each individual sentence, I ask my students what the sentence is telling them. If it is an expression or equation, I ask them questions as needed to guide them through translating the sentence into an expression/equation.

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

I actually find asking students questions a very successful strategy for tutoring or working with students. This allows me to determine what knowledge the students have on any topic as well as where their errors come in. This strategy also makes the student feel more positive and successful since the teacher is in the passenger seat. Also, as mentioned before, focusing on the positive encourages the student, which helps them to feel and be more successful.

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

I would try to tie in their hobbies and interests into the topic if possible. When it isn't possible I try to at least find interesting problems or real-world type problems. If I can get them interested in the problem then they will hopefully become more interested in the subject or topic itself.