What is your teaching philosophy?

To make sure a student has a full understanding of the material being taught. I want to see the student work through problems themselves without having difficulty before moving onto new material.

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

In a first session I hope to establish a bond with the student, showing that I am confident with the material at hand. I would make sure to note where their experience is in the material being taught so that I know where to begin my teaching. I would also like to test their fundamentals to make sure they are not missing key concepts, causing them more frustration than needed.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

To help a student become an independent learner, I would help accommodate the student to a study plan that works well with their way of thinking.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

To help keep a student motivated, I will make sure they are working problems in progression of difficulty to help show them that they are getting better at the subject at hand.

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

If a student has a difficult time with a concept, I will take a step back from the difficulty of problems and approach the student from a different angle of teaching.

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

When students are struggling with reading comprehension, I would advise the student to take a short break or to defer to an easier problem for the time being and come back to the problem that was being struggled with.

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

I believe the best strategies are ones where the student must be actively working problems themselves. If the student is receiving too much help from me, I then know that the student is not comfortable enough with the material.

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

To get a student engaged, I would like to give them problems that they have the ability to answer effectively without having to struggle too much. By giving them easier problems, I would then be able to show them that they have the ability to progress in the subject.

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

To be sure that a student understands the material, I would make sure that they are able to work the problems themselves without any extra help from myself. If a student cannot answer questions without my help, then they will most likely not be able to answer many problems they are faced with in the classroom, as they won't have the teacher giving them help on assignments or tests.

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

The best way to build a student's confidence is to show the student progression through a subject while completing problems.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

To evaluate a student's needs, I will need to see the coursework they have completed to identify any fundamental errors and ask them what they are struggling with.

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

Changing my teaching style for a student is what is always needed. Some students may need more visual representation of a problem than others, and some may need more explanation than others. The way I teach is not just one way; it must be catered toward the student.

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

A notebook, textbooks, and online quizzes.