What is your teaching philosophy?

My philosophies behind teaching are that there is not a single method to learn a subject, but multiple approaches to learning it. My belief is that using all the resources acquirable will lead to a far more optimal learning experience. It will also reveal which methods are more suitable to the student. Finally, I believe that learning should never be rushed. It is far more important to have a firm basis for understanding and a thorough understanding so that building upon it can lead to a successful learning process.

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

I would first introduce myself, and say a little about the things I enjoy and why I am tutoring. Then ask for an introduction from the student. Then be open to some questions both ways. Afterwards, I would ask them to run down the subjects they are currently struggling with and the subjects they enjoy. The reason I ask for subjects they enjoy is because I want to know what their strengths are and what their current learning methods are in their stronger subjects. Finally, we would delve into the subjects and topics the student would like help with.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I would introduce them to studying habits, work ethics, resources, and share my experiences to help the student learn and understand how to become an independent learner and what it means to be a lifelong learner.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would ask them questions about what they would like to do in life and show them how it relates to the subject fields they are currently studying. Also, I would also teach them a trick I use to keep myself motivated. For example, a self reward system.

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

I would try different methods and approaches for the student so that I can see which ways would be a better way for them to understand and master the concept.

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

For students that struggle with reading comprehension, I would start small and ask them to analyze the readings they are doing by sentence, and slowly build up on that. They can analyze sentences and then move up to phrases, followed by paragraphs, pages, chapters, and sections. Just a slow, steady growth pattern is needed. It is continuous practice that will, in the end, reward the student.

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

Most students struggle with subjects because they do not understand the way the teacher is explaining it. So oftentimes I will use real-world examples and self-applicable examples that will help them see for themselves how they can apply and learn the subject.

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

I would explain to them all the possibilities and wonderful paths there are after they are able to learn the subject. By doing so, it motivates the student to want to learn the subject, which in turn opens their eyes and ears to the different methods I will use to help them understand the subject.

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

To make sure that a student understands the material, I would occasionally "pop quiz" them. Not with a sheet, but I would just ask them about a topic we covered in-between short breaks or while learning different subjects. This makes sure that the student does not forget about what they learned and slowly imprints it into their long-term memories.

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

I build a student's confidence by showing them they are capable and have the ability to understand it. By showing them the different learning methods, it will build up their confidence when they are independently able to solve the problems they were struggling with. Reviewing and rebuilding on the basics will strengthen the student's confidence as well.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I evaluate a student's needs by asking them to show me which subject the student is struggling with. Then I ask them to pinpoint a topic they are having difficulties understanding. By asking questions, I can narrow done what the student is struggling with, why they are having those difficulties, and how we can solve the problem.

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

I use different resources and different methods to teach students. My flexibility allows for me to either be strict with the student if that's the type of learning style they enjoy, or I can be relaxed and help them slowly and steadily to become engaged with the subject.

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

Oftentimes I will use textbooks, test prep books, paper and pencil for scratchwork and online resources to show visual models on sites or in videos.