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

I would introduce myself and then spend a few minutes just getting to know the student--what they care about, how they think the subject might apply to their life. Then, I would go over some comprehension checks to see exactly where the student is with the material, and what is most beneficial to work on. Then, of course, get to work!

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I think the best way to stay motivated is helping students find real-world connections--making their subjects applicable and important in their own lives. In the past, I've been most successful with students when subjects seem relevant, and so I find things like music, or political issues they care about, or television, or animals, travel, etc.--anything a student is deeply passionate about--and make the connections.

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

I would slow it down, and break it down. For me it's important to offer the steps to how to solve a type problem in a general sense than just being able to solve one single problem. Also, students learn in so many ways! If a student was having difficulty with one way of teaching, I would try some other techniques.

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

Reading comprehension can be a very complex thing, so first I would see what the student could most improve in. Then, I would find specific ways to do that--whether that means finding intertextual things that the student remembers better, or creating a bit of a different environment for the lesson itself.

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

When you really work with a student to make subjects important to them--to connect with their actual, lived experiences--the learning experience becomes much more amazing, for both the student and for me as an instructor. Also, I think putting the pen in the student's hand is also incredibly important: letting them work their way, with guidance, to the answer, rather than answering it for them. Lastly, I like to focus on holistic learning and teaching techniques: involving different sorts of environments, like focusing on physical learning, or involving technology to illustrate, or really anything that differs from just a traditional oral lecture.

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

I think the absolute most valuable thing you can do for any student is to make a subject matter to them--which you do by making them feel like what they're passionate about in their own experiences is incredibly important. And it is! The experiences of students are what will shape our future, so when a student is struggling with a subject, the most valuable thing to do is make it applicable to things they love, whether that be animals, or sports, or politics, or music. Make them matter and make their interests matter, and their learning will bloom.

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

Comprehension checks are very important! Essentially, I have a student repeat back the information we've gone over in our session, and make sure they can make some connections of their own. Then, I see if they can do a new problem that addresses these things.

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

I love the simple but very effective 'compliment sandwich' structure: give a student something they did wonderfully-- a very specific thing-- and then go over something you can work on together. After that, always end with something they've done well at. Session after session, as well, remember what their improvements are, and make sure to open and close a session with those.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

In terms of academics, just go over comprehension checks and make sure to gauge them properly. Holistically, especially for APs and test prep, sometimes I have found that stress relief techniques and making sure students are eating and getting enough sleep can be just as vital for success, so just genuinely asking how your student is doing and offering a few tips for test-taking, etc., if that helps.

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

If a student is struggling with a certain type of instruction, change it up! Move around, get outside, bring in technology, or use visual and auditory and tactile learning strategies. Make sure that your student is connecting to your teaching just as much as the subject(s) you're going over.

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

I use text and review books as well as current assignments and their rubrics. I also love to bring in outside resources, generally utilizing technology, like short videos, songs, and even online samples of texts that may help illuminate a textbook or concept.

What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is to make sure students know, first and foremost, that they matter, and that their learning matters. I love to see what students are passionate about and help them make connections with the subjects they're going over, and I do that by getting to know them and listening to them, but also by putting the pen in their hand. I love to teach students techniques to learn, now and in the future, and to excel at that, rather than just teach a certain set of problems. Because at the end of the day, students do matter, profoundly. Their learning, and their voices and experiences and the space we give them to fill, so beautifully, is what the future will look like. So if I can teach to make that future brighter, and confident, and accepted, and fair--that's the coolest thing I could hope to do.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

If you equip a student with techniques to their learning that can apply not only to the subject you're teaching, but also to a wide variety of subjects, then they start to grow in their ability to learn independently. One of the best ways to start this is to put the pencil in the student's hand, always, and let them ask questions and make mistakes, rather than do problems for them.