What is your teaching philosophy?

Asking engaging, challenging questions about the content frequently and having the student explain the content in their own words are important tools. This insures that they are digesting and appropriately recalling the material.

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

The first session should be about getting to know each other and getting a sense of what the student's goals are in the subject area. After this, foundational concepts should be reviewed, if applicable, before moving into more specific details.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Encouraging the student to explain a concept back to me in his or her own words is a great way in ensure that the student feels in control of his/her learning progress. It is also an opportunity to solidify and reinforce what has been learned and what needs to be improved upon.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Staying away from lessons that are strictly lecture based is a great way for the student and tutor to interact with one another. The give and take also makes the lessons more fun and less monotonous.

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

I would make sure I understand what it is about the concept that is particularly difficult for the student. Then, I would try to present the information in a different way until the student can fully understand it and explain it back to me!

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

Reading out loud and pausing regularly to discuss the main points are critical to improving reading comprehension. It's all about proper organization of the presented material.

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

Listening to the student and understanding their strengths and weaknesses are key. In addition, establishing a trusting environment that encourages open communication is very important.