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

I would want to know their strengths and weaknesses in the subject, but also to learn more about who they are as a person to help influence how to better educate and help them.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Teach them how to find the appropriate information by using the appropriate resources and how to avoid the "bad" resources. Teach them more about themselves and find different ways to teach the material.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Keep them laughing and having fun. Find interesting stories and activities to show them it can be fun.

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

Find an activity that meets their personal interests as well as the subject matter.

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

Practice and work on different methods that they know to help them understand what the words mean. Using pictures also helps with many individuals.

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

Engaging their interest and their current knowledge and understanding of the topic.

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

A good video or demo that represents the topic being discussed.

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

Tests, having them create a cumulative project or other activity to incorporate everything they learned. Pretty much, have them teach me what I just taught them.

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

Personal relationship building and continually showing them how their ideas translate to what they want to do or what they are currently doing. Show students that they are worth something in this world.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Testing or having them describe different aspects of a particular topic, or telling me about their life in general.

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

It depends on each student, but it depends on personal interest. If a student is interested in something, and you can tie in the material to that interest, they will retain the information.

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

Anything and everything, from notes, pictures, videos, demos, and outside tools. Whatever is necessary to help the student.

What is your teaching philosophy?

I have learned through years of experience that many students come into college unprepared for the expectations and the requirements set for them. Therefore, I challenge my students to think bigger and be prepared for further educational opportunities, but at the same time keeping in mind that they are still young adults and only have so much background knowledge in specific subjects. My goal has always been to help bridge this gap between secondary education and their next stage in life. A good teacher not only challenges his/her students, but also challenges themselves to be better. We need to ask what can we do to educate this student better or that student better and continue to develop our teaching methods. I have always challenged myself to be better than last time, and I will do the same for my students. I want my students to be successful in any field, and I feel that if I give them the tools to analyze and critically process information, not only will they succeed in my class, but in any job opportunities. Science is more than just understanding concepts, but rather about putting those concepts together, developing those ideas, and becoming a well educated member of society. My goal is to make sure that my students become leaders in not only the classroom, but throughout their lives.