What is your teaching philosophy?

My philosophy on teaching is that the student should lead the education. People are so unique, and my effectiveness as an educator isn't measured in how many degrees and/or certificates that I hold. It is measured in how well my students can understand and apply the knowledge that I've passed onto them.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help a student become an independent learner by finding out what motivates them and giving them small challenges to get them excited about working independently.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, I would start with revisiting my notes on their learning style to see if I've gotten off track with the way that I'm teaching and relaying information. Then I would have them walk me through the skill as far as they can get and see where the disconnect may be occurring.

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

I would help students who are struggling with reading comprehension by breaking reading down into small chunks and asking questions about what we covered. From then we would work our way back up to reading bigger chunks and asking more questions along the way, encouraging critical thinking.

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

The strategy I have found to be most successful when first starting to work with a student is making it a point to get to know them. Use analogies a lot to help people understand things, and if I'm giving a football analogy to someone who has never seen a game or even doesn't like sports and would rather play adventure-style video games, it may not sink in.

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

I would help a student get excited/engaged with a subject they are struggling in by tying it to something they do enjoy. So for example, if we are working on math and the student is a basketball player, I'd try to incorporate basketball into the lesson where I could to get them involved and help them understand.

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

My favorite technique to make sure a student understands the material is to have them work though the skill/problem without my help, and once they've done that, have them teach it to me as if I have no idea how to do it.

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

From the very beginning, my tutoring style is based around the student’s needs. How they learn, how they study, how long they're able to concentrate, etc., are all things that I like to know at our first session.

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

I generally carry pencil, paper, a T1-83+ calculator (if its math), and a notebook/binder with information on the student and what they are working on. I also will utilize supplemental materials as necessary according to the subject.

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

I would ask questions designed to get to know the student, their study patterns/learning style, and what their strengths/weaknesses are in the subject.

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

I would focus on the small wins as we work though the topic. Finishing a few problems without my help (or with minimal assistance) is considered a small win.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

When applicable/possible, I like to find out what the student's weaknesses/strengths are in the subject. From there I can see what we most need to work on.