How would you help a student stay motivated?

I maintain a calm and patient atmosphere at all times. Sometimes, just a step in another direction/topic works best at moment of challenge!

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

I work with them from all angles on mastering the skill or concept. I also find connections with them from other material in which they are already confident.

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

I love to break down the passage or selection. Little bits are far less overwhelming than larger selections!

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

Connecting to material already mastered! We always know more than we think.

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

Creativity aids in comprehension. For example, silly French sentences help vocabulary and grammatical concepts stick really well!

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

Real-life application ensures that a student truly understands. I also frequently have them teach it back to me. When the student can become the teacher, you know they have it!

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

I reaffirm the skills that they have mastered at the beginning of a lesson and also at the end, complementing the end of the lesson with the new concepts they have mastered!

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I have them speak first about what they believe their needs are, and then I present a variety of activities to see where the remainder of the needs lie.

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

I experiment! I am consistently learning just as much as the student through my adapting tutoring styles.

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

I enjoy using a variety of passages that involve diverse topics for work on reading comprehension and writing. For language work, I love to use a multimedia approach as well (music, videos, etc.) to really demonstrate the breadth of the language.

What is your teaching philosophy?

We always know more than we think! I strive to find connections between material in which a student has immense confidence and the more challenging material. This facilitates patience and excitement in learning.

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

I get to know the student's interests outside of the topic. I want to be able to connect material to topics that are interesting and revitalizing for the student.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I firmly believe in thinking 'outside of the box.' Creative thinking ensures that a student cultivates original thinking in regards to general topics.