What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that students learn by doing, and not merely by studying.

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

During a "getting to know you" interview, I would assess the student's facility with the English language.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Students become more independent by doing, and not just studying. By making the student an active learner, I can observe and make suggestions rather than lecture.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

By making learning fun!

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

My favorite reading strategy is called SQ3R in which students engage in pre-reading, reading, and post-reading activities to help them comprehend a text.

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

I always ask the student what they feel they need to work on. As we begin that work, I can then assess what other areas a student may need help with.

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

Find a way to turn the struggle into fun!

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

I would use multiple assessment techniques, not just one, to ensure a student understands the material at hand.

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

Start with the basics and gradually work toward more complex material. Taking the time to show the student their progress on this path is a great confidence builder.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

There are multiple ways to evaluate a student's needs: get the student's input, assess the student, and observe the student.

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

Whatever materials will be most useful to the situation at hand. They could be textbooks or they could be authentic materials such as newspapers, billboards, websites, etc. The possibilities are endless.

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

One option is to approach the concept from a different angle. Another option is to move on to a completely different topic, and then come back to revisit the difficult concept. Sometimes a brain break can do wonders.

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

Only by evaluating a student's needs can I determine how to best approach a tutoring session. No two students are exactly alike.