What is your teaching philosophy?

To spark an interest in the student and to continually encourage. When the student is enjoying the subject, they will excel in wonders they never knew. I believe my role then becomes providing the room and resources to grow and push forward to success.

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

I would like to get an understanding of where they are. To get to know them as a person and understand them as a student. I believe we are all unique learners, and with each student, they may need to see subjects and approach the material in different ways and strategies. Discovering this and trying these methods is key to their success.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Provide them with the right methods and strategies to approach every subject.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Constantly encourage them, allow them to show me what they have learned so far and continually remind them of how much they have learned so far. I believe every student can do the work if they put their mind and dedication to it, so I will never give up on a student.

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

I would first ask them to explain what they think the skill or concept is to me. Then, I would see if I could try and re-explain the skill or concept correctly in their terms. If this fails, then I would use other approaches to explain, such as comparing or visual explanations.

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

Practice is key for reading comprehension. When we practice reading comprehension, followed by the questions given, I believe the student starts to become more aware of what to look for after each practice.

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

One of the strategies I found to be successful is allowing the student to become the teacher. When they explain the concept or material to me so that anyone can understand it, then it shows me that they get it.

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

Giving students praise for each accomplishment or point they get through. They need to know and understand that they can do the work. Once they believe in themselves, they can accomplish the work.

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

There are a huge variety of techniques that can be used to ensure the student knows the material. It is based on the student and the material. The techniques I would use can vary from flashcards and testing memorization to mind-mapping or system understanding. To be sure the student understands material, practice questions are one of the techniques I find to be the most effective. If a concept is tougher, the more practice questions and exposure, the better. I also believe that student teacher is a great technique. When the student can teach the material back in their own words, they are beginning to fully grasp the material.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Communication is key to really grasping a student's needs. By fostering an environment of trust and respect, I hope to engage the student in a way that will expose their needs. From doing practice questions, and going through material and asking questions, I hope to see where the student excels and lacks. It takes time and communication to develop a strong connection and understanding of the student.