What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that every student learns differently, and that it is the teacher's job to communicate information in a way that will be most beneficial to the student.

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

In a typical first session, I would ask the student to provide me with a syllabus so that we could go over the material that will be covered in the class.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I would help a student become an independent learner by guiding him or her through coursework, until he or she was capable of working through problems him or herself.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated by staying enthusiastic about the subject and encouraging the student to do their best work. I would make sure the student feels accomplished for doing well on their assignments.

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

If a student is having difficulty with a skill or a concept, I would ask the student to identify the component that they are most confused about. Once I have a basic understanding of their confusion, I would try and explain the skill or concept differently to help their understanding.

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

I would help students who are struggling with reading comprehension by breaking down the meaning of each paragraph they read. For instance, if a student reads a paragraph, I would have them both explain and write down the key points that they had just read. Once they feel comfortable doing this, I would have them do this for each page, and then every several pages. By summarizing the material they have just read both verbally and through writing, they will begin to internalize this and improve their reading comprehension.

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

I would get a student excited about a subject by trying to keep them as engaged with the material as possible. I believe that if a teacher is genuinely excited about the material, then the student will find it more exciting.

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

I would ask the student to explain, in their own words, the material we have reviewed.

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

I would build a student's confidence in a subject by starting out with simple concepts or problems that we would work on until he or she was comfortable with them. After that, we would work on more difficult concepts to make sure they can achieve great results.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

By asking the student what exactly they do not understand about a subject. After they give specific examples of what they do not understand, we can begin working on improving their skills.

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

I would adapt my tutoring to a student's needs by determining how they process information best. I would then adjust my teaching style based on that.

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

Pens, pencils, paper, and books. A computer if necessary.

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

I have found that listening to the student's needs and teaching by example has helped work with students.