What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is to meet students where they currently are. I understand that learning can sometimes be hard, especially toward certain subjects because of personal preferences or how our mind is wired. So my approach is to learn about the student and which teaching style best fits them.

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

During a first session with a student, introductions are definitely in order. I believe it is important to start by building rapport and trust. The best way to do this is to show understanding and empathy. School is not always easy, so during the first session, I would let this be known. It is nothing to be ashamed about, and I would let the student know I am here to support and help them.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help a student become an independent learner by allowing them to demonstrate what they are learning to me. I believe application is very important when it comes to understanding concepts. Once the student feels comfortable with the material is when they start becoming independent in their learning.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Positive praise is very important when it comes to helping others to stay motivated. It can become frustrating or demotivating when certain material is difficult to grasp. Which is why it is important to focus on the positive and take a breather when needed.

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

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, I would try to discover different ways of explaining the concept to them. There are definitely different learning styles with sight, hearing, and application. Some students understand material better by different ways of explanation. I would just try to find the best way to explain to the student the skill or concept.

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

When students are struggling with reading comprehension, I would slow the pace to what feels comfortable to the student. Sometimes it takes breaking down sentences or paragraphs in order to fully understand what is being written.

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

I have found that talking students through the material or problems by allowing them to self-discover the answers step by step is very successful when it comes to retaining and learning the information.

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

I would help a student get excited and engaged with a subject that they are struggling in by trying to relate the concepts to something they are interested in.

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

I would make sure that a student understands the material by allowing them to explain the material to me. I would ask them to try to teach me the information in a way that they best understand it.

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

I would help to build a student's confidence in a subject by praising when they do well in that subject, even if it is little victories. If they understand how to proceed with the next step independently, that would definitely deserve praise in my book.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I would evaluate a student's needs by having a conversation with them. I would ask about what ways they learn best so that I am able to tailor my teaching style to their needs.

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

I would focus on which learning strategy works best for the individual student, and then I would adjust my tutoring according to what the student feels is most helpful.

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

During a tutoring session, I have found that paper and pencil or dry erase board and markers are helpful to visualize concepts.