What is your teaching philosophy?

All children learn differently. Some are able to listen and comprehend, while some must have hands on interaction with the subject. I am of the latter and sympathize with children of this nature because most school systems lack in development of kinetic learning styles.

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

Get to know the student and how they view school, learning, and the subject at hand. Ultimately, I would aim to enthuse the student about the subject so they can be excited and interested in learning.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Request outside research and the implementation of different analytical styles that they may perform outside of a learning environment.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Provide an environment where learning is fun and entertaining, have interactive study plans, and leave the student wanting more. For example, in a story, I would leave on a cliffhanger to ensure they are curious about continuing the book.

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

Analyze in what way they are struggling and implement different learning styles that involve more hands-on activity. I would also connect the subject to something they enjoy, thereby contriving a positive outlook for the student.

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

Ask them the different ways in which the story could be told, or interpreted. This would insight different forms of analysis and theoretical application that would help them in other ways as well. I would also ask them thought-provoking questions that get them thinking in different ways about a story.

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

By creating a positive connection, conveying authority without being oppressive or negative, figuring out how that student learns and what they are interested in to formulate a lesson around them personally.

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

I connect it to something they are interested in so that they associate it in a positive way.

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

Teach-back techniques, I believe, are incredibly useful in that someone who can teach a subject has full knowledge of that subject.

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

Have stepping stones that allow them to "grow" and have aspirations that, when reached, they will feel a sense of accomplishment. Also, connecting the subject to outside hobbies and interests is a positive.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I ask them questions, look at their previous work, and observe how they are interacting with the material. In that way, I can adjust my teaching to fit their learning style and needs.

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

I assess their learning needs and style and proceed appropriately. I also want to make learning fun; therefore, I try to connect what is being learned to something they already have an interest in. Every student has different needs, so it is important to mold a lesson around those needs so that the student has the full potential of mastering a subject.

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

I use creative elements, items that are physical to demonstrate hands-on learning, as well as items that are connected to their interests already. I try to convey a correlation between the subject at hand to something they already know or are familiar with.