Mary

What is your teaching philosophy?

Every child is smart. If you are a struggling student, it has to do with processing, which has NOTHING to do with intelligence.

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

Find out from you why you think you are struggling.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Do strategic exercises, which cross the midline, along with a cognitive challenge over a period of time.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would allow the student to take short brain breaks.

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

I would explore whether there is a possible visual processing disorder. I would also suggest using different color overlays while reading.

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

When I work with my student, I need to have good energy and instill confidence.

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

I may help them understand why they are struggling, and let them know there is a solution.

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

I would give more examples, and maybe have the student come up with examples that they then can solve.

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

Spending time in the subject, with the goal of working independently.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I would be in tune with what the student is communicating to me verbally and nonverbally.

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

I know everyone learns differently. There are visual learners, auditory learners, and kinesthetic learners. I would do my best to teach the way the student learns.

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

Websites, colored overlays, pencil, eraser, whatever the child is working on, earphones and music that can help the brain focus.