What is your teaching philosophy?

"Great teachers empathize with kids, respect them, and believe that each one has something special that can be built upon." -Ann Lieberman. I love this quote because it holds true to how I approach teaching. I look for what the student already knows or finds interest in, and build upon their knowledge or interest so that each lesson is meaningful.

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

The first session one of the most important sessions in my opinion. It is the foundation to all future learning. Without a strong foundation, the building will collapse. In the first session, I want to spend the time getting to know the student and start to build a relationship with the student. There needs to be that trust between student and tutor so that each person feels comfortable. I also use this time to set short term goals, long term goals, and get a taste of the material to be covered.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help a student become an independent learner by giving them the tools that they need to feel confident in their own ability. I do this by slowly pulling my assistance back. Oftentimes, the student does not even realize I have pulled myself back, allowing them to do the work, until they have successfully completed a major milestone on their own.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated by giving them small goals that can be accomplished in a short time frame, as well as larger goals that require a little more work. By creating small goals, students get immediate gratification, increasing the desire to do more challenging tasks.

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

I figure out a different way to approach the skill or concept. If I am trying to teach it through a visual, I will try a hands-on approach. I will also adjust my vocabulary usage to words the student might find easier to comprehend.

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

I love teaching close reading skills to students who struggle with reading comprehension. These skills are something I still use to this day and can easily show the student my own work. To teach this skill, I will start with very small passages, and slowly build up the stamina in the student to tackle longer, more difficult passages.

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

I have found building a strong report with the student first leads to the most success. If the student feels comfortable enough around me to make a mistake and be OK with making a mistake, they have the potential to soak in so much more information.

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

I would help a student get engaged by showing them how it is applicable to their life and by giving them a role model to look up to. For example, many young men dread reading. I would show them men who read in hopes that they will look up to them as role models.

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

My favorite technique to check for understanding is to have the student teach me or another student the concept. My second favorite technique is one-on-one discussion/questioning.

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

I build a student's confidence in a subject by starting with activities they can already succeed at, and then slowly build off of that. By using this scaffolding technique, students rarely feel overwhelmed or incapable.