What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe in getting to know the student personally so that I can link their interests to the subjects of reading, writing, and grammar. This process allows me not only to establish a relationship with my students but to give them a new perspective on learning.

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

In a first session, I would like to focus on the student's interests in school and out of school. I like to ask some personal questions as well as find out what may be the reason a student needs tutoring in a specific subject- a reason that goes a little deeper than just the grades they are receiving.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Students become independent learners when we give them the tools they need to work on their own. The answers are not as important as learning the steps to find the answers so that they can use those tools when the tutor or teacher are not around.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I try to help students stay motivated by using topics and interests that motivate them outside of the classroom, and find ways to incorporate those interests into their learning.

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

I would try several different techniques of teaching that skill, and if it goes beyond my general knowledge, I would seek information from other educators and research to find more techniques for teaching a particular skill.

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

I would incorporate questioning, graphic organizers, and summarizing techniques to determine exactly why the student is having a problem with reading comprehension.

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

I would ask them what it is they do not like about a particular subject so that I can show them other ways of approaching it that might be more interesting. Incorporating the student's interests in music or movies also helps.

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

I would use a personal assessment to "test" what it is the student should know about the subject, and if they understand it or if there are points that need to be reviewed before moving on.

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

The confidence of our students is the key to their success. That is why determining their learning style and teaching to that learning style gives the student the confidence that they are smart enough and capable of learning just as much as the next student.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I like starting with asking the student. I feel that it is important for them to express what they think they are having difficulty with and what they believe is the roadblock in their learning prior to evaluating the difficulties as I work with students over time.

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

I try to incorporate several learning styles in my tutoring sessions to see what the student is most receptive to.

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

It depends on the student's needs, age, and interests. Sometimes I use graphic organizers, or art materials like markers and crayons, or sometimes it is just a sheet of song lyrics.

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

The best strategy for me is making sure my students know that their personal interests matter and that learning is not always black and white. We can incorporate many different context areas in one subject until we find something that engages the student's interests.