What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is that each student has a capacity to enjoy their educational experience. My goal as a tutor is to work with the student until they feel confident with the subject in question and even learn to enjoy it.

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

I typically spend my first session with a student by gaining any information about the student’s background with the current subject. What has worked? What hasn't? What are your specific goals regarding this subject? Once I gain this information, I can work with the student to establish an effective study plan.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, I would experiment with different learning strategies and different types of exercises until the student begins to feel comfortable. In addition, sometimes a student needs a break from that specific skill or concept so that they can see it with fresh eyes when they return from other material.

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

If a student was struggling with reading comprehension, I would begin by having the student read a passage and answer questions. I would observe and ask about the student's current reading habit and figure out a new strategy to help them read more effectively. Highlighting is one of my favorite places to start with reading comprehension, because it helps the student to identify important words and phrases in the passage.

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

I use a variety of materials, depending on what the subject is and what the student's goals are. I usually like to start with the materials the student already has on the subject, like workbooks and textbooks. Highlighters and index cards are some of my favorite tools as well.