What is your teaching philosophy?

When a student has a good foundation, then all they need is confidence to excel. Let me be part of the team that makes that happen. When you are confident enough you will take off on your own.

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

We need to do an evaluation to determine where you are. I need to get to know the student enough to determine where their comfort level is. Where do they struggle and why?

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Help them build confidence. Help take away the fear of failing and let them understand that it is part of the learning process.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

We work together. I am available when they are having trouble, all they need to do is call. I will get to know them and our relationship will be teacher and friend.

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

I would try different avenues to see if we can find out where the difficulty comes from. Many times there is a reason behind the difficulty and if we can find it, we can beat it.

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

Have them read something they like or are interested in. Sometimes reading is like endurance, you need to build it up.

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

Have them do some things they know before launching into new things. Let them show me what they have accomplished.

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

Go back and build their foundation and let them have some successes. The struggle will fall away.

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

Work with them, ask them questions, and test them.

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

Work on their foundation.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I would work problems with them and see where they are struggling.

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

Each session is focused on the student and what they are learning in class. I would let them tell me where they are in a class and show me what they are doing. We could then work through the subject together.

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

I use a white board, books, calculators, pencils, and the internet.