What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is to adapt to the student's method of learning. A student will only learn if they are taught in a way that they can understand.

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

In a typical first session with a student, I would ask questions. It's important to know what the student is doing well in, as well as what the student is struggling with.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

A student will only become an independent learner if they know the importance of the material. This is why the first step to becoming independent in anything is to clearly state your goal, and how the material will help achieve that goal.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

The best way to help a student stay motivated is to remind them of their goals, and how close they are to achieving them. Also, using real-life examples as problems for the material is effective.

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

If a student is having difficulty with a skill or concept, I would ask the student what is difficult. Depending upon their response, I would adjust my teaching strategy and/or material to make them comfortable with that particular skill or concept.

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

When students are struggling with reading comprehension, it is often due to the overwhelming amount of words on the page. I would tell them to take it one sentence at a time and even suggest to block out the rest of the passage with a piece of paper, only revealing the material as the student reaches it.

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, it is important for the student, as well as myself, to feel comfortable with each other, as well as the material. The best strategy to working with a student is finding a common ground and common interests.

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

In order for a student to get excited or engaged in the material, it is often successful to constantly change. Switching between reading, watching videos, hands-on activities, and solving problems is often successful in holding a student's interest.

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

Simply asking a student if they understand the material and having them repeat the concept back often proves whether or not they understand the material. Having them do sample problems will also accomplish that goal.

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

Constant positive reinforcement is vital to build a student's confidence. Self-esteem is a very important attribute in the learning process.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Asking the student what has been successful and unsuccessful in the past is a good way to evaluate their needs.

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

Once I learn from the student what has been successful and what has been unsuccessful for them in the past, I can then adapt the teaching method to fit their needs. If they respond to videos better than reading, for example, I will then teach the subject matter through a more visual approach.

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

During a tutoring session, I would use practice problems, text books, self-made experiments, videos, audio, and real-life examples.