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

In a typical first session, I like to assess each student and ask them a variety of questions to assess their learning style. I also like to gauge how they are feeling about the particular subject they are receiving tutoring in.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

As we tutor, we will develop study tactics for your student to do on his or her own. If your child has a hard time completing his homework in one sitting, we can work on instituting a homework plan that will be tailored to your student's needs.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would continue to encourage the student and try putting the difficult concept in a new light and new context that the student would understand. For instance, we might draw pictures or act out scenarios while role-playing different aspects of a concept.

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

It truly depends on the student, but sometimes we will go through a passage with highlighters and highlight key sentences as we read. This practice helps students to learn to recognize the important details of any passage. We may also draw little pictures as we read to help us remember details.

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

From the very start, I want your child to feel appreciated and comfortable with asking questions. I always believe it's important to affirm what a student is doing well while giving constructive feedback. When a student feels understood and heard, he is more willing and confident to delve into uncharted learning territory.

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

As a student, I often asked myself, "How is what I'm learning ACTUALLY going to be helpful when I'm an adult?" (I still ask myself that about cursive...) And yes, even though I don't necessary use the Pythagorean Theorem in my everyday life, the Pythagorean Theorem taught me how to find patterns and appreciate triangles. I believe that while every subject may not be directly applicable to life, every subject can teach us something about ourselves and the world around us. And that is an exciting thing! I want students to realize that they may be learning more than they think!

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

Depending on the student, I would give them practice quizzes and ask them to explain the answers to me. Because teaching actually reinforces knowledge, I would have the student pretend he or she was the teacher while I was the pupil. We may also play fun games that involve small rewards!

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

It is important to continually encourage a student and find the things that he or she is doing well. I like to tell my students, "Hey, you're doing a great job. This stuff isn't easy." I remember countless times in middle school and high school when I'd get stumped by a math problem and feel like an idiot or see my peers immediately understanding a concept while I was left in the dark. In these moments, I had to pause and say to myself, "It's okay. I'm not any less smart than these other people--my learning style is just different, and that's okay!" In the same way, by encouraging your child's intelligence, he or she will be more willing to step into frustrating concepts and take small steps toward understanding.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

In the first session, I like to sit down with the student and ask a variety of questions to get a good baseline for your student. Depending on your student's age, I always love for parents to sit in. For instance, I'll ask about favorite subjects, least favorite subjects, what they like and dislike about school, what excites them, and what scares them. I will evaluate their needs, not only based on their answers, but also on their non-verbal and style of communication.

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

I use a variety of materials, from pens, pencils, and highlighters to musical instruments, costumes, and paint. Sometimes, if a student feels constricted by sitting in a chair, I'll provide a ball for the student to sit on.