What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is that everyone is able to learn. There are different styles of learning, and one must gear teaching to the learner's style.

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

During the first session, I would gain knowledge of the learner's preferred style of learning, gain understanding of the information the learner is not currently proficient in, and together with the learner develop a teaching plan to facilitate learning and proficiency in the desired subject.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Independence comes with knowledge, proficiency, subject matter comfort and confidence, thus allowing the learner to be independent.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Helping the learner stay motivated includes making the learner feel comfortable in and around the subject being studied. With success comes motivation.

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

If a student is having difficulty learning, I go over the skill or concept until the learner feels comfortable.

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

I assist the learner to comprehend the information through the process of rewording the content being read. I will assist the learner in looking up words they are not comprehending, thus creating independence and confidence to read on their own.

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

The strategies I have found to be most successful is creating a team environment and providing the learner with input on the manner in which we progress through subject matter.

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

I reinforce that they will have an "ah ha moment" and the light will come on. I share personal experiences where I have struggled and ultimately succeeded. I also remind them anything worth achieving was difficult in the beginning and got easier once it became second nature.

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

I use assessments to ensure the learner has mastered the material presented.

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

I begin with "baby steps", gaining proficiency before moving on to the next building block.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I assess the needs of the learner based upon the learner's view, my interaction with the learner, the assessments provided, and the manner in which the learner is able to reiterate the material to myself and others.

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

I adapt my teaching based upon the learner. I may use more verbal explanations for oral learners. I will use more visual explanations for visual learners or maybe a combination for other learners. When I see a learner not understanding a concept, I ask the learner to verbalize what they are not understanding to adapt and reword the concept not understood.

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

I will use a variety of materials, from PowerPoints to examples to lectures.