What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that each child is unique and has something special that can be built upon. In order to meet individual challenges, my lessons will be structured into learning modalities by incorporating auditory, kinesthetic, and visual techniques.

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

My first session is about building a rapport with the student. I need to make sure that I am someone your child feels comfortable talking to. I will ask about life at school and about interests/hobbies. I want the student to know that I am someone who helps them help themselves solve problems and does not do it for them.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Helping a student become an independent learner involves incorporating a variety of collaborative instructional techniques. Ask questions: "What would be your first step trying to solve this problem?" Effective formative feedback: I would encourage my students to focus on how to learn a particular concept or skill based on their abilities. Becoming an independent learner is a long-term process.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would relate lessons to the student's personal life or daily events. Acknowledge the student's hard work. Match level of skill: not too hard, not too easy. Set realistic performance goals.

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

I start by having the student explain to me what their understanding of the concept is. I then use a different approach to teaching style to help the student grasp the concept.

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

Asking questions will make the student want to look for clues in the text. Encourage the student to create visual images by reading out loud and describing the pictures he/she is seeing. Encourage the student to predict what might happen in the story as you read aloud. Create a story organizer where the student will keep track of the main characters, where the story is taking place, and the problem and solution of the story. Monitor comprehension by reading out loud with the student, read slowly and identify the confusing words.

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

Collaboration, creatively thinking, consistency, communication, incorporate new technology trends, incorporate students' interests, and multi-sensory approach.

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

In order to get my student excited/engaged in a subject they are struggling in, I will use the KEEN learning technique: Kinesthetics (Moving for meaning); Endorphin Release (Playing for mastery); Experiential Perspective Taking (Imagining while doing); Narrative (Creating a story).

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

Discussion Strategy- engage the student in a discussion which deepens their learning and motivation by propelling them to develop their own views and hear their own voices. Critical Thinking - enables the student to question what knowledge exists. Experiential Learning - learning by doing.

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

Set attainable goals from the start. Always express a positive attitude. Build on student strengths. Use a wide range of tasks and resources. Value different approaches to solving problems.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I would use formative and summative assessments. Formative Questioning: What was the most important thing you learned today? What was the most confusing topic today? What important question remains unanswered? Summative Questioning occurs at the end of an instructional unit or course and measures the extent to which students have achieved the desired learning outcomes.

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

By incorporating the three major learning styles into my teaching. Visual - preference for seen or observed things, including pictures, diagrams, demonstrations, displays, handouts, films, flip-chart, etc. Auditory - preference for the transfer of information through listening. Kinesthetic - preference for physical experience including touching, feeling, holding, doing, and practical hands-on experiences.

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

An informal agenda for the session: what will be covered in numerical order. Determine if the student is familiar with the background information required to understand the steps that will be used to solve the current problem. MIFF techniques: Management, Involvement, Feedback, and Focus.