What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is that having a positive attitude is half the battle when it comes to learning new things. I like to greet my students with a smile, incorporate activities in my lesson that make them smile, and give them the tools they need to reach new levels of success.

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

My first session would typically be filled with some fun getting to know each other activities. This information can be used as a consideration when creating future lessons. After I learn more about things the student likes or dislikes, I would give the student a thorough assessment in whatever subject the student is being tutored in, so that I can design future sessions to target the student's areas of weakness.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I help my students become independent learners, by teaching them about tools/resources they can use to help answer questions they might have, and various problem solving strategies.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I help students stay motivated by giving them several opportunities to be successful at a task before increasing the difficulty level, and making sure to insert moments of fun in the lesson.

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

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, I will first break the task into smaller chunks, and then teach each part at a time. If the student continues to struggle, I will try teaching using visual aids, animated models/videos, and even music/art if possible.

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

I help students who are struggling with reading comprehension by showing them the strategies good readers use when reading literature or informational text. Then, we will use these strategies repeatedly until they too have developed the habits of a good reader.

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

Many students are successful when they learn how to break a complex task into smaller parts. I teach them how to do that with reading, writing, and math.

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

I like to build student engagement by incorporating their interests in lessons often, and by highlighting the areas they are doing well. After students experience small successes, they are more willing to take on challenging tasks.

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

I like to include many opportunities for students to write what they're learning and explain their thinking through discussion throughout the lesson. This allows me to assess if a student understands the material.

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

I build a student's confidence in a subject by giving them several opportunities to be successful at a task before increasing the level of difficulty.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I evaluate my student's needs by giving them a comprehensive assessment before designing learning sessions.

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

I adapt my tutoring to the student's needs by incorporating their interests into the lessons and experimenting with a variety of instructional strategies, until I find the one that is most effective for that student.

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

I use a variety of charts, graphic organizers, videos, magnetic boards, ebooks, worksheets, and online sites during my tutoring sessions.