Dustin

What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe the goal of education is not merely the ability to memorize facts in order to test well. Education is truly the ability to assimilate and synthesize information in order to gain a more complete and personal understanding of a subject or any given material.

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

The first session would entail establishing goals. What does the student want from the course? What are the student's strengths regarding the subject matter? What are the weaknesses?

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

The key to independent learning boils down to interest. To become an independent learner, I would help stimulate curiosity in the subject and help the student come to an understanding as to how this subject will aid them in their day to day life.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Positive reinforcement is always a given and an effective motivational tool. I would develop a strategy for both short term and long term goals to assist the student with motivation and understanding.

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

In the humanities, which is my primary area of focus, there are often many ways to approach a concept or skill. If a student is having difficulty, I will work with them to find a perspective that will aid in their understanding of the subject matter.

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

Reading comprehension entails many different factors. I personally find that comprehension is vastly enhanced by maintaining a relaxed and open state of mind. I also encourage students to take the time to read the material, put it down, and then come back to it later.

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

Establishing rapport with a student is a fantastic way to enable future success. I like to find commonalities with people, and then let the dialogue move from there.

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

I would help the student find the aspects of the subject that resonate with them personally. The humanities are named so for a reason. There are lessons to be learned on both a macro and a micro scale within them.

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

I may do light quizzing depending on the material. My general tactic would be through Socratic dialogue. I would prefer to discuss the material with a student to help them gain a more full understanding of the subject.

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

Confidence is built upon fundamentals. If we need to begin with the basics, there is no better way to ensure future success as we move on through more advanced material.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I would make sure that I had a clear sense of the student's goals and needs within a given subject. Dialogue and communication is the key. Once I understand what the student requires from me as a tutor, I will help formulate a plan to meet and hopefully exceed their needs.

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

People learn through a variety of methods. I will determine the best way that a student learns; i.e. visual learning, lecture, interactive media, etc. From there, I will pool resources and media that will most effectively assist the student.

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

This varies depending on the student. Referring back to the previous question, I will seek out and present outside media that can help the student understand the subject at hand.