What is your teaching philosophy?

I have been an educator for 16 years, and my teaching philosophy has always been and will always be: students come first, writers are made, not born, and there is a solution to every problem.

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

In a first session, I would ensure I understand what the student's major concerns and questions are. I would then adjust my focus to their needs, and then I would make sure they leave the sessions feeling confident.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Students can become independent learners by learning confidence from their tutors, understanding the rules of grammar and mechanics, and consulting websites that will help enhance learning.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I help students stay motivated by teaching growth mindset techniques, meaning they can learn anything with positive thinking. I also would remind them of the bigger picture and their long-term goals.

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

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept I would continue to coach them until they felt confident. I would also try changing the way I explained the concept to better serve the student.

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

When students are struggling with reading comprehension, I would teach them how to highlight and annotate in order to remember key information.

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

When I start to work with a student, I make sure they feel comfortable that they are in good hands. I assure them I will stay with them until they feel great about their assignment.

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

I would help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in by finding out their personal interests and relating that to reading and writing.

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

Since I tutor online, I use the whiteboard and make sure to highlight and circle the areas of writing we are discussing so that the student can zero in. I also like to provide extra web resources to help.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I evaluate a student's needs by asking lots of questions, reviewing their writing, and asking more questions.