What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is that learning should always be fun. I try to find ways to increase enthusiasm.

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

In a typical session, I would build rapport with my student. People are more open to learning when they are comfortable. I would also find out the best techniques and strategies to assist my student with the learning process. I want every student to be successful.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Usually, working on your own means that you have confidence in yourself. You don't necessarily need the help of others to know that you are doing something correctly. I would use confidence builders, such as positive feedback. I would also have them complete assignments and tasks partially on their own, and then gradually build them up to working alone. This would be a delicate process.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated by constantly reminding them of the end product. I would give them a goal to work toward. There would be an activity in place to remind them of that goal. The entire process would be positive.

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

I would have students read more. I would have them read a short excerpt as quickly as possible and then immediately tell me what it was about. That part helps with memory. I would then ask them to pick out parts or words that stood out to them. I would have them explain to me what they think it means. Then we would explore what it actually means if their explanation was incorrect. I would also have them pick out words that they didn't understand and find the definition of such words. Often if a student is not comprehending what they have read, it means that they don't know the definition of the words they're reading.

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

I would have the student give me examples and explain to me how they came up with the answer. Feedback is great both ways.

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

You give a student positive feedback. You let them know that you are proud of them and that you notice how much progress and/or effort they are making.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I would use information that I get from the parents, the student, and also how they are testing in their subjects.

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

I find out what techniques and strategies best work for a student and adapt my tutoring accordingly.

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

The type of materials depend on the type of assignment, but I typically use crayons, pencils, paper, a small soft ball, etc.