What is your teaching philosophy?

I like to reach students on a personal level and use their passions and strengths to inform the subjects they are weakest in or do not enjoy.

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

I would get to know the student as a person first, assess their goals in the subject, and then attempt to find where the disconnect in learning is happening.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I teach them the skills they need to study and retain the materials being presented to them.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I like to know what the student is passionate about outside of academia. I try to use those passions to teach the subjects they are having trouble in.

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

First and foremost, be patient and empathetic. Then, try to break the skill or concept down to the very most basic level and build upon that making sure the student is with me every step of the way!

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

I try to ask them creative questions or activities to show me what they have gathered. For example, I may ask a student to draw the setting of a short they just read or ask them to describe the main character as if they were their best friend. Often, the students understand more than they thought, they just have trouble expressing it.

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

I always find out what the student is passionate about outside of school and use that when teaching. For example, if a student is passionate about sports but has trouble in math, our math problems may relate to sports stats, such as the angle you need to score a goal or the volume of their favorite soccer ball!

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

I will often return to the areas I know the student is confident in, especially before beginning or visiting a challenging area because it both reinforces the material we need to build and boosts the student's confidence in their mastery of the subject.

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

It depends on the individual student's learning style and the subject. For example, for a student that is very hands-on, I will bring as many props as possible. If a student is visual, we may use lots of coloring and art materials. If a student enjoys music, I may bring a listening device.