What is your teaching philosophy?

To offer every student a fair, interesting, and quality education in which they can reach their full potential.

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

Get to know them, ask them what their goals are, and review their subjects/content that they need assistance with.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I will help students become independent learners by having them practice in the real world. For example, if they are learning English, then I would want them to give me a demonstration on something they are interested in. I would then have them practice with a person they don't know (i.e. ordering something or asking for help/clarity). The only way students can become independent is if they practice within a setting or situation where learning takes place.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I try to teach from multiple angles, so that students have more opportunities to understand the bigger picture of a concept or skill. Practicing a lot will help, and making sure the student knows that they are making progress will keep them motivated to understand a concept for themselves.

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

There are a variety of skills that can be taught to help with reading comprehension-it just depends on what the age of the student is and what level they are currently at. I like to create games, comparisons, highlighting, fill in the blank notes, closed reading, and many other strategies to help students boost their reading comprehension abilities.

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

I like to try a variety of strategies when I first meet a student. I like using their interests (ex: sports, hobbies, etc.) to help explain concepts and ideas. I also use a lot of graphic organizers, multiple visuals, and fun, hands-on activities to help students retain their learning.

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

I like to use a student's strengths and interests (ex: sports, hobbies, etc.) to help them understand a concept or idea.

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

I like to use real-world examples to help students understand materials. For example, if a student is working on math and they want to be a hairdresser when they grow up, then let's practice our measuring skills and cut some hair using a doll or wig. So it makes sense to the student and applies directly to what they want to do in the future.

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

I am a big believer in positive feedback and reinforcement. Even if they get a problem incorrect, they are still learning.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I like using quizzes, mini tests and their school work to evaluate their progress. If the student can do a skill in multiple settings, then they have grown.

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

I like to evaluate a student's needs based on my first session and the needs written in their profile. I also like to do a baseline test to collect data on what they need to improve upon.

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

I like using materials from the student's school, but I also like to supplement with visuals, supplementary worksheets, and technology (games, apps, etc.).