What is your teaching philosophy?

When I am tutoring, I strive to present the information in a way that is clear, organized, and as simple as possible. I always try to connect detailed subjects into a big-picture view. I'm a fan of pictures and charts, and I always take time to choose a picture that, I think, is the most clear and useful. I also will compare difficult concepts to simple, real-world analogies, when possible.

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

I want to first identify what the student is working toward. For instance, if there is an assignment, I look over the objectives carefully so I can loosely organize the session in my mind. I'll also quickly try to gauge the student's level of knowledge, and I am fairly adept at tailoring my approach.

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

Most concepts have more than one way to break them down, and I'll start over from a different direction.

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

Keeping the session light and easy makes for a better learning environment. I'm very easy to talk to, and I don't change that just because it is a formal tutoring session. Also, I try to figure out the student's ability level as quickly as possible, and I can usually get a feel for it after a couple of minutes. No one likes to spend 30 minutes going over the basics of a concept when they are 3 or 4 steps ahead of that; likewise, no one likes listening to abstract, detailed explanations utilizing heavy jargon when they need to get a solid footing first.

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

I usually don't do formal questioning, but rather can tell as the session goes on how well the student knows the material. It comes out naturally as we talk.

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

I'm quick to compliment, and also I am quick to offer help if a student is working on a problem and gets stuck.

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

I can alter the amount of technical jargon depending on my perception of the student's abilities. I can alter the way I present the information in order to make the student comfortable.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Throughout the session I get an understanding of what the student needs, usually without asking this question specifically. If there is a prompt or assignment, then naturally I'll go over it to determine what the student needs to do.

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

I use several sites on the internet, as well as academic institution sites. Pen and paper as well.