What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe teaching, above all occupations, carries the greatest responsibility. It is responsible for creating a foundation that prepares an individual to meet life's challenges. Regardless of the student's stage in life, when asking, the student should be challenged to explore the questions of the mind; not just receive answers to complete an assignment. This is the ongoing responsibility to represent the topic with professionalism and example. I have a mindset that teaching is more than following a syllabus or proposed curriculum. These two items provide a systematic approach, but including real world examples and analogies bring subject matter to life. Because students do not learn or comprehend at the same pace or with the same methods, i.e. kinesthetic, visual, audible, instructors should include these alternative methods in presenting material to ensure that each student has the opportunity to learn. Within these methods, I challenge students to be creative in exploring their weaknesses for learning by using their strengths to self-heal. I do not believe in the 'surface approach' to learning. This approach forces memorization and limits creativity to envision new ideas and build upon existing knowledge. The purpose is to learn, to retain for future use, and memorizing is for short-term purposes and therefore cannot benefit a student in the long run. Curriculum should include moments of repetition to promote long term learning that will give students confidence and enthusiasm that will carry through to their personal and professional lives. I get enthusiastic when given an opportunity to share my knowledge and experience. Aside from the feeling of accomplishment from completing assigned tasks in my professional life, there is joy that comes from enhancing another's knowledge or experience. I believe that, "A day without learning is a wasted day." I live by that phrase in that as I strive to excel in life and the workplace, transferring examples of achievement challenges students as well as colleagues to pursue excellence.

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

I find the student's end goal. From there, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the topic and formulate a plan for learning that best fits the student's learning style.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By demonstrating various methods of comprehensive study practices.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

By finding and discussing the underlying problem with accomplishment. It may be more than academic.

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

Present the topic in various formats that best suits the student's learning method.

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

I find the best method is through analogies of topics in which the student is familiar.

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

Demonstration, analogies, and common interests.

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

I find the underlying problem and build on the weakness, using the strength of the subject to their advantage to show the student he/she can do and comprehend.

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

I give the student alternative problems to solve or ask similar questions.

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

Confidence is derived from accomplishment. It is repetition until the student understands the material from various angles.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

With the initial conversation regarding the subject at hand and what the student's end goal might be.

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

I adapt according to the student's best method of learning. Afterwards, the methods are expanded to give the student more learning tools.

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

Pencil and paper, whiteboard if available, and/or computer if available.