What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is rooted in Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. In short, not all students learn the same way. As a tutor, it is my goal to understand the way each student learns, and play to those strengths.

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

A typical first session includes knowing how the student learns, the goals they have set for themselves, and whether those goals are measurable.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help the student become an independent learner by helping them to identify the best way they learn, making the whole experience personally rewarding for the student.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated by measuring their success. For instance, if the student is struggling, I would remind them how far they have already come towards a goal.

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

Learning a skill or concept is a means to an end. It is not an end in itself. Helping the student see a skill or concept from a different perspective helps.

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

Reading comprehension is acquired by degrees. For example, I would ask the student to read a single page, and then ask what the salient points were. Building on this method, I would ask the student to read several pages, a chapter, a book section, and so on.

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

I have found success in establishing the expectations of the student in order to meet and exceed those expectations.

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

By making the subject fun, I have found the student can have a change in attitude about study.

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

In order to know the student understands the material, I would use a Socratic method of asking questions.

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

I have found that students grow in confidence with success. Therefore, it is my goal to help the student succeed. Pointing out progress certainly helps towards this goal.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

The student's needs can be comprehensive. Therefore, it is always good form to ask the student specific questions to bring clarity and focus to the need. For example, the need may not be the subject, but the time it takes to study the subject. Asking a question about time brings the focus.

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

As a father of three children (one in college, one about to go into college, and one in high school), it has been important to adapt to their needs. For example, one student may need to connect with me, another to the material, and another to both.

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

I typically use the reading material, notepad and pen (or electronic notepad). Thinking, articulating, and writing are three separate disciplines - that when combined - form a solid approach to learning.