What is your teaching philosophy?

Everyone is unique. Each subject matter is different. My favorite style of learning is hands on, which in the academic realm leads to many practice problems, flashcards and creating questions to reverse-solve if needed.

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

The initial meeting is definitely about learning how to work together. What personality do you have and which learning style do you enjoy most? I will ask what you are in most need of learning/mastering and what timeline we have to make that happen.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Becoming independent requires confidence. I will be an encouraging mentor for their academic needs. Perhaps, I will draw on their outside interests to integrate them and make non-academic connections to apply how the learning topic can be useful.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Providing positive feedback and taking subjects and practice problems one at a time will help my students stay motivated.

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

Presenting alternative explanations and taking a step back into the fundamental skills/knowledge will support the concept. Providing thorough discussions on background topics and supporting solutions or theories will help students surpass any difficulties.

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

In order to gain excitement in a challenging subject, I would work to establish fun, life connections to the problem sets of topics of understanding. I would ask them how this skill and knowledge will benefit them in the future.

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

I would use comprehension and summary questions or problem sets under timed intervals. Additionally, I would request that the student creates a problem to make me challenged. We could solve it separately and review the solution together.

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

Complete understanding of the student's weaknesses will help me identify what I need to focus on during our time together. The repetition and alternative approaches to teaching the challenging subject will build the student's confidence.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I ask to see their homework, in-class assessments, and other performance evaluations. The student's needs will be discussed early on during our first meetings.

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

Pencils, paper, calculators, my books, and a computer depending on the lesson. I can bring flashcards and notebooks to work in as well.