What is your teaching philosophy?

As a teacher and tutor, I see myself as a mentor who guides the student to the answers they are looking for and achieving the goals they hope to achieve. I do not believe in just giving a student the answer, because that teaches them nothing. However, by helping them in the process of coming to the answer, I can create an atmosphere in which the student grows in self-confidence and self-efficacy as they reach for their goals.

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

On day one, knowing where to start is the thing that is most important. Oftentimes, I like to gauge where they are in regards to the specific subject that is being covered. I will often ask a couple of questions just to determine what their capabilities are and from where we need to start. For instance, if I was tutoring a student in seventh grade for writing, I might ask what types of writing he/she has done in the past? What is the longest essay he/she has ever written? I also like to understand what the expectations of his/her teacher or parent are. So I may ask what types of assignments has your teacher given you? How do your parents feel about this teacher? Of course, my approach changes based upon age; however, all of this is to gauge where the student is and what the goal is for the student in order to understand what I need to do as a tutor to put them in the best possible position to succeed.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I would help the student become more independent by approaching a problem, project, or task as a mentor who is there alongside them to assist them along the way. I have found this mentor approach to be more conducive in helping the student becoming more self-confident in comparison to the formal teach and pupil approach. I use this mentor approach because I have found that it produces the best results and the best students by instilling them with the courage to trust themselves and their abilities, which is the most important component in becoming an independent learner.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Motivation is a tricky thing, and exactly how one is motivated changes from person to person. Nevertheless, I believe that the one thing that motivates all individuals is when an another is really interested in them and cares about them as an individual and the goals that they wish to achieve. I have heard it said multiple times that "People don't care about what you know until they know how much you care." Now this expression of care or interest varies based on each student because every student is different. However, I seek to keep the student motivated by showing them that I am personally invested in their own interests and ambitions.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

In my experience, the best way to approach a situation where a student is having a hard time grasping the subject is by first, not cramming it into their head by teaching a concept the same way over and over again, because if they are not understanding, it is not necessarily them and it is more likely the way in which the subject is being taught. Secondly, I would try explaining it a different way. I personally like to use metaphors to explain concepts that may be hard to comprehend. Lastly, I like to get them involved by using hands-on activities or visuals that demonstrate how a specific concept works. I have found that following these three guidelines to be extremely helpful in such scenarios.