What is your teaching philosophy?

There is no such thing as a dumb question. You should never be afraid to ask questions. Be inquisitive. Knowledge is power and the key to success.

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

I would ask them what they feel they need help with to get an idea of what they have trouble with. I would also ask if they are comfortable with lectures and/or visual aids.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Encourage them to find the answers on their own and find creative ways to research the information needed.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Give them praise. Letting them know what they are doing right makes them feel good. This encourages them to strive for excellence because their good work has been noticed.

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

Find a creative way to teach them that concept in order to make it fun.

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

Use visual aids to make them more relaxed and make learning more interesting. Tools, such as flash cards, would help.

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

Always give them praise for doing a great job. You don't always have to scorn them for having the wrong answer. Make them feel comfortable.

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

Create visual aids, make a game out of it to make it fun or exciting. Find out what their interests are and incorporate their interests into a learning technique to keep them alert and interested.

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

Give them more than one way to solve the problem to find out which way is easier for them to get the answer.

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

Give them praise or a reward for doing a great job.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

If you give them a quiz, you can determine what skills they need assistance with. Ask them for their latest test scores or grades on homework assignments to make a determination as to what skills they need to improve on.

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

Find out what method works for them. Some students do well with lecturing; others may prefer visual aids.

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

Printouts, index cards, and worksheets.