What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that every student, with enough practice, has the potential to be a great writer. My philosophy is to start slow, in small chunks, and to slowly build skills at a pace that is challenging but does not overwhelm the student.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

One of the many ways a student can become a more independent learner is by building the confidence they need to step forward on their own. Motivational psychology says that competence, autonomy, and a connection to others are the three pieces needed for individuals to be motivated to be independent learners.

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

I usually back up, start with something slightly below the level of difficulty they are currently experiencing and build on what they know.

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

With reading comprehension challenges, I help the student break down the information in smaller chunks. Make sure they understand all the vocabulary first, and then move up to sentences, and then paragraphs.

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

The most successful strategies I have found are to meet the psychological needs as outlined in motivational psychology, make a connection with the individual and promote competence and autonomy. A huge part of this is understanding the student's needs and where they feel they need to improve.

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

By showing them that they know more than they think they do, and emphasizing through feedback where I see progress in their process.

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

I start with small chunks of learning, beginning slightly below their ability and building on what they already know.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

First I ask the student, and then I also do an assessment as we work together and I see first hand where they are struggling.

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

Each student has different needs, and it is my job to pay attention to what those needs are. If a student is feeling overwhelmed, I slow down and back up a bit. If a student seems confident and is understanding, then I push them a little to the next level of challenge.

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

First, we will go through whatever the student wants to work on, (e.g. school assignments, projects, etc.) and then, to reinforce new learning or clarify areas of difficulty, I like to use any materials available for most grammar, reading comprehension, and composition writing needs. I use worksheets that are short, precise, and build on each other.

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

It is important in the first session to identify what the student feels they need to be successful and to let them know I am there to help make it happen. Building a rapport with students takes time, and this is something I will also build on from session to session.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

According to motivational psychology, in order to promote intrinsic motivation three psychological needs must be met, competence, autonomy, and a connection to others. I build a connection, build competence, and allow opportunities for students to feel autonomous.

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

I like to check in with the student as we go. At the end of each section, for example with reading comprehension, I ask them what they don't understand, I ask the meaning of specific, key vocabulary words, and I ask questions about the passage to ensure they are grasping the meaning and main idea of the passages.