What is your teaching philosophy?

No question is stupid, and we work at it together until it starts to click. We learn together.

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

I'd first break the ice with the student--take the time to get to know him/her. It's important to me to understand what the student is concerned about so we can tackle the issues together!

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I'm a strong believer in sharing personal experiences with younger students. I'm just like them, and I never want students to feel like their challenges in understanding the material or their desire to take their learning a step beyond is unique to them.

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

Active reading! We often read to read, but don't take the time to engage with the words. Helping the student understand that, for complicated passages, you have to stop and ask yourself questions, will be my guiding tool for helping the student.

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

Developing a comfort level with the student is the most important. You have to gain the student's trust, otherwise they won't be open to your guidance, and the last thing you want is to have a student question your teaching method.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

It's important to really take the time to get to know each student and figure out what works best. Boosting confidence is important.

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

I'd relate the subject to something they're interested in.

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

Once it appears the student has a grasp of the concept, I'd give them practice problems to work on without my help.

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

Positive reinforcement is important.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I'd look for patterns in their work--things that consistently cause the student to struggle--and then cater my tutoring towards those needs.

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

Again, it's all about building the relationship and remembering that no two students are the same.

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

I use any resource available to me that will be helpful for the student. Some students are visual learners, some are aural, and some are kinesthetic.