What is your teaching philosophy?

My goal is to give people the tools they need to become self-sufficient, independent learners. I want people to trust their own ideas and intuitions so they can figure out what learning style works best for them. In short, I want to encourage people to trust their own ability to solve problems.

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

Talk about their expectations, and how they would benefit most from my knowledge and presence. Then we would come up with a general plan and course of action, and then get straight to work.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I always encourage students to follow their ideas. Then through the mistakes and roadblocks, students can better understand where they went wrong and improve their learning skills. Over time, by continuing this process, their skills are refined and their intuition for the subject will grow stronger. In short, test your ideas and figure it out on the way.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

To encourage them to just keep trying. I believe that when most people give up, they give up because they don't realize how close they were to succeeding. So whenever I see someone on the verge of giving up, I always tell them "If you really want to quit, then quit tomorrow. But for today, give it your best shot. I'll be with you every step of the way." I also believe that people sometimes need someone else to believe in them when they lose hope in themselves, and that's what I'll be for them. A person who won't give up on them.

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

Most of the time I would take a break, and just take the student's mind off the material. Afterwards, I would try to narrow down what they are misunderstanding. The best way to find out is to have them explain the subject to me. Then, whenever they hit a roadblock, they'll be able to see at least one thing they can't figure out. From there, we go back at it.

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

Reading comprehension is about connecting the dots. So I would have them write down anything that they remember. Then I would ask them what they think is happening in the text. From there, we would know where the gaps in comprehension are depending on the responses and work on those gaps.

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

When they're allowed to freely think about their own ideas and solutions without consequences. In other words, I always try to invoke students to think for themselves, because it's always much easier to remember an answer you come up with versus memorizing an answer someone hands to you.

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

I would first ask why they don't find the subject interesting in the first place. For example, if a student says "What's the point?" Then I would try to show real life applications in the subject. It really depends on why they dislike the subject they are learning.

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

Just have them explain the concept back to me. If they can do that, then it becomes much clearer where they stand on the material.

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

I always try to create an environment where failure has no consequences. I want students to test their own ideas and see how far they can take themselves. Plus, whenever they're discouraged, I always tell them that I know they have what it takes.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Simply by asking the student. They know themselves better than I do, so it makes sense to ask them first. Also, by observing the student's work, you can pick up on their style and traits, and evaluate what they need from there.

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

By asking what they want out of each session, while keeping in mind the overall goals they have for themselves. I'm here to help them succeed in their way and not by anyone else's standards. So I'm usually going to be the one that's most flexible during sessions.

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

Everything. The textbook, internet, class notes, and calculators. If a tool is available, it makes little sense not to utilize it. This doesn't mean all the tools need to be used. Just that we shouldn't turn our heads away from something that could be of use. Additionally, being creative with your toolkit is a big part of becoming an independent learner.