My teaching philosophy focuses on visualization of concepts to promote a deeper understanding, which ultimately means a lasting understanding. Focus on how to help the student get to that point.

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

In a first session, I would introduce myself to my student so they feel comfortable, ask them about themselves to open the dialogue and make them feel they are able to talk and ask questions anytime.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

To become an independent learner, a student needs to have the drive to be the best they can be. That can be achieved in many different ways, including boosting confidence and setting short-term and long-term goals.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Motivation can be easily lost, so to keep a student motivated, I would try to turn the subject into an activity so it's more than just problems on paper.

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

I would work with the student to figure out what is giving them difficulty, and then find a way for them to visualize the concept in a different manner.

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

Reading out loud a few sentences at a time helps tremendously with reading comprehension. Then you can work with the student to summarize what it was they just read.

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

Staying focused on the task and making it fun brings success for the student.

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

First, I would give them a chance to change their impression of the subject and boost their confidence by having them answer easier questions. Then I would find some interesting facts or applications to show them the importance of what we were learning.

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