What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe in the potential of all students and that anyone can succeed if he or she is willing to put in the work!

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

I would spend a little time introducing myself and getting to know the student, creating a comfortable environment for us to work in. I would want the student to tell me what his weaknesses and strengths are, as well as his goals for our sessions and what he wants to accomplish. I would ask the student in what particular ways he would like me to help.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

There would be independent work that the student would need to complete in between sessions. I would have the students try to complete some assignments independently, and then we would go over them together.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Lots of encouragement! I would be a constant reminder of the goals they have set for themselves and what those goals will help them achieve in the long run.

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

Working on vocabulary is a great way to strengthen reading comprehension. Memorizing definitions of unknown words in context is a good place to start. I would use questioning as we read a passage together to check for understanding and find out where the breakdown in understanding is taking place.

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

That depends on the task. Instruction, guided practice, and independent practice really can solidify a skill. Discussion and questioning also is a helpful strategy.

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

That can be difficult, especially if a subject is boring to a student. I would try to find an aspect of the subject that might appeal to the student, and I would try to connect it to something that the student likes already. If nothing else, I would try to help the student see how mastering this subject will help them obtain their future goals.

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

Again, it depends on the subject. Oral questioning, checking written work and/or homework, practice tests, and quizzes, if appropriate.

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

Praise when a student does something well, and encouragement when he is struggling.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

First, I like to hear what the student perceives he needs from our sessions. As we continue in our sessions, I will assess the work we do to discover what his needs are.

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

Once I get to know the student a little bit, I can better ascertain the primary ways the student learns. Once I discover that, I can begin to tailor our sessions to his learning style and how he learns best.

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

It depends on what we are working on. If I can include technology (videos, internet, etc.), in addition to traditional materials, I will include that. If the student has a preference, I can incorporate that.