What is your teaching philosophy?

I focus on the needs and goals of the individual student.

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

A first session will often be used to assess the student's level of understanding in the subject to be tutored.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I try to help students understand concepts rather than just memorize procedures.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would remind them of their personal goals and reasons for requesting tutoring support.

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

I would ask questions to see what particular concept they may not understand properly. Patient repetition and drill is often necessary.

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

I typically put the student at ease by being friendly and expressing sympathy for their struggles as a student. I also focus on assessing the student's level of understanding so that future sessions can be most productive.

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

I would ask the student to explain how they arrived at their answers to questions and problems. It is possible that they got the right answer without actually understanding the related concept.

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

I remember to praise the student for even small steps that they understand or get correct.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I am familiar with excellent assessment materials for various subjects, and I observe closely how the student approaches problems and assignments.

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

If a student does not understand a foundational concept, I go back and explain what they have missed, filling in the gaps in their understanding.

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

Many times, it is sufficient to use the workbooks and texts in a student's school curriculum. Other times, I choose to use materials that I may have found to be more effective.