What is your teaching philosophy?

My philosophy of tutoring evolved from many years of tutoring experience. As I reflect on my beliefs regarding tutoring and learning, my mission as a tutor is threefold: To promote positive learning. To spark students enthusiasm for learning. To provide a strong foundation for lifelong learning. To accomplish this, I enjoy a wide variety of strategies based on essential mathematical and science principles, learning theory, diversity issues and instructional planning and assessment.

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

Get to know what the parents' and student's expectations are. Determine the student's knowledge. I want to learn about what motivates the student. Look at past test that were taken to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the student.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Ask for feedback from the student. Play role reversal - let the student became the tutor and me the student. My way of gauging the student's knowledge is how he tutors me with the material.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Give clear objectives to the student.

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

If a student was having difficulty with a skill or concept, I would reflect on my teaching style and make modifications based on what the student is having problems with.

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

Pose questions that will spark the student's curiosity. Create visual images to bring the text alive. Help the student determine what is important.

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

As a tutor, I give homework and tests. I give specific problems that the student struggles with in the homework. This gives me the knowledge of how the student is progressing with the material. I would then administer a test to determine the student's overall knowledge of the material he is working with in school.

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

What I have found is that, if a student sees that he or she is making progress in a subject, that boosts their confidence, which then causes more excitement and engagement.

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

I would administer homework weekly, and then follow up with tests.

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

Offer praise and acknowledge the student's accomplishments. Always express a positive attitude to the student. Create opportunities for the student to succeed by building on their strengths.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

By administering weekly homework and looking at the student's quizzes and tests taken at school.

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

I bring a computer to access material and problems associated with the student's school work. Also, I bring a workbook with the same material as the student's classroom assignments.

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

I determine the student's weaknesses and problem areas, followed by giving assessment homework.