What is your teaching philosophy?

Education must attempt to capture the diverse view of society and promote the diverse ideas of not only the majority, but also the underrepresented. Hence, it must crystallize itself as an essential instrument for promoting opportunity, equality and social change. Today's multicultural society has transcended the isolation existing borders of class, race, and gender. Therefore, education plays an important role in defining the notion of democracy and global citizenship.

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

I would spend time getting to know my student's strengths and weaknesses, favorite subject, worst subject and why. We would set goals on which skill sets to work on together during our upcoming sessions.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By teaching student a skill and having the student apply skills to different unique situations.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

History has endless debatable questions, so I start with a "question of the day" as a hook for each lesson. I'd have the student grapple with taking a stance on the issue. This will drive motivation. In addition, students need bit sized challenges and review with the teacher in order to feel successful.

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

I'd try to apply the concept to my student's interests and relate the skill to situations my student will understand.

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

By applying reading annotations strategies, margin note strategies and inserting checking for understanding questions in small chunks.

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

After finding out students' needs, I teach students strategies, such as reading strategy for deconstructing document based questions. Students love using the four corners strategy because it allows them to unlock challenging text.

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

I would find my students interests and relate content to my students, which buys students engagement. In addition, find areas which students can build confidence by building on top of their current skills.

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

Checking for understanding can be in the moment during the lesson, but I use exit tickets before end of each session and quiz sets.

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

Find out where my student's baseline understanding stands and build skill sets in which my students find small success.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

In many different ways: talking to students, giving initial surveys and question sets.

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

By finding out my student's style of learning, and then modifying my teaching to fit their learning style.

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

It depends on the students. Note cards, questions sets, textbooks, map cards and a laptop.