What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is that every student deserves the highest quality educational opportunities available. They should have instruction tailored to meet their individual needs. Teaching is an art and a quality teacher should never stop improving in their abilities. They should strive to explain complicated ideas and concepts in simple, memorable, and creative ways.

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

In a typical first session, I would take the time to get to know my student. What are their interests? What makes them excited about learning? How do they learn best? What are their struggles? What are their educational goals in connection with our efforts together? Once we discussed these things, we would work together to create a learning experience.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

My goal as a teacher is not to teach a student how to answer questions, but to prepare them to learn. As independent learners, students are better prepared for success. In order to teach my students to become independent learners, I carefully craft questions that help them reason through a problem or skill. Without becoming overwhelmed, the students learn how to analyze a topic and how to investigate solutions independently. I am careful to frequently comment and encourage my student's efforts so that they stay motivated.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Helping a student stay motivated is key to helping them reach their educational goals. Initially, I would discuss goals with them and regularly refer back to these goals. In addition, I would tailor my instructional strategies to fit their individual needs. By using examples and references that interest my students and that are practical to their everyday life, my students stay motivated.

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

When a student struggles with a concept or skill, simply repeating my instructions or explanations is not sufficient. Instead, I would look for alternative ways to explain the concept. For example, I would relate the concept to something they already understand. I would avoid complicating a topic or skill, but instead approach it with simplicity and clarity. By using effective analogies, illustrations, and real-life examples, many students can learn a skill or concept that was initially difficult for them.

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

When students struggle with reading comprehension, discouragement quickly results. To help a student who is struggling, I would focus on keywords in the text. I would use a variety of strategies to help them understand these keywords and how they relate to the overall topic. For example, using various graphic organizers helps many students who struggle with reading comprehension. These tools can help them examine a text more carefully and determine relationships between concepts in the text. They also serve as an excellent memory aid since they are designed and produced by the student themselves.

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

When I initially start working with a student, I find it best to get to know them. What are their interests? What are their struggles? What activities do they enjoy doing? What are their educational goals? How do they feel they learn best? Using this information, I tailor an educational program that best suits their needs.

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

My forte is in taking a complicated topic or subject and simplifying it so that students can comprehend it. Usually, when a student is struggling, they become discouraged from not understanding. I would build their excitement and engagement by making the subject easier to comprehend. Also, showing the student the benefits of learning the topic can help. Relating it to real-life experiences and situations helps them see these benefits. My excitement about the subject also rubs off on my students. Excitement is contagious!

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

When a student lacks confidence in a subject, they never feel comfortable discussing or learning about that topic. To build a student's confidence in a subject, I encourage them to experience success in the learning process. They should be commended for their efforts in learning a subject and recognized for their small achievements along the way. This helps them build confidence that they can achieve even more.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Evaluating a student's needs is necessary for a teacher to design a learning environment for that student. Talking with the student is the first step. Learning about how they think and how they learn, and discussing their goals all help to design a quality learning environment. Formative assessments also help a teacher evaluate a student's needs. When these are frequent and designed to fit the student, they become effective evaluation tools.

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

Every student is different. Appreciating these differences and adapting to them is the key to success. I first get to learn about my students. What are their particular needs? How have they experienced success in the past? What contributed to their challenges? Using this information, I design a tutoring program that will ensure continued success. Some students need a more visual approach. Some benefit from a kinesthetic approach. The more a student is involved in the learning process, the better the outcome will be.

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

During a tutoring session, I typically take advantage of the materials that help that individual student. Not all materials help all students. So my philosophy is to tailor my sessions to that particular student. Some of the instructional tools I use include charts, graphs, pictures, drawings, manipulatives, graphic organizers, role-play, carefully crafted questioning techniques, and repetition. The key is to use a variety of materials so that the student remains engaged and excited about learning.

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

In order to determine if a student understands the material, I would use frequent and appropriate formative assessments. This would require that I assess understanding often through demonstration, explanation, writing exercises, or oral presentations. In addition, I have had great success when the student/teacher roles are reversed. Students learn so much more when they have to teach something they have learned. I become the student and expect my student to be the teacher. This technique also helps me determine if my student has mastered the material.