What is your teaching philosophy?

Instilling confidence and understanding of course material in my students.

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

Go over the strengths and weaknesses of the student, that is, what the student is most and least confident about in the coursework, and begin testing different teaching methods to find that which is most compatible with the student.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By teaching a student studying methods that extend and can be applied to various subjects.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

By setting small scale, achievable goals, or stepping-stones for oneself. Once a small goal is achieved, the student is ensured he/she is on the right path and is making progress.

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

Try a different approach. For example, if the student is having difficulty remembering the steps of photosynthesis, I would try coming up with an analogy, storyline, or various acronyms to aid in memorization.

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

I would break down the passage into parts and tackle each part individually. I would pass on reading skills or tactics I have come across in my earlier years of education.

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

The strategy of explaining concepts in a fun and enjoyable way, to engage the student in a way that allows them to fall in love with what they are learning. Also, in mathematic based subjects, practicing, dissecting, and revising multiple practice questions have proved most effective.

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

I've found that as a student’s confidence in the subject matter increases, their enthusiasm for it also does. I would make use of analogies, models, and outrageous storytelling to make the coursework all the more enjoyable and memorable.

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

I would quiz the student at fixed intervals as we proceed to ensure they grasp the concept before moving on to the next. I would then ensure the student understands how all the concepts relate and tie into each other, and have him/her practice problems of gradually increasing difficulty to ensure complete understanding.

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

By ensuring they know the subject front and back. This can be achieved by quizzing the student and solving practice problems. The more frequently the student answers correctly, and the longer the term of correct answers, the sooner the increase in his/her confidence.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I would look over previous assignments, exams, or coursework (if available), determine the student's weaknesses and strengths based on verbal inquiry, consider any immediate needs (upcoming exam) and begin from there. I would also modify these evaluations as the session proceeds, if need be.

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

If I feel that the student is not responding to a certain approach, I would alter it to one I believe would be more effective. For example, if the student is not responding to verbal aid I would revert to visual aid, and so on. Different pacing needs can also be modified as the session progresses.

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

Any outside notes/exams/practice problems the student wishes to bring, my own notes/practice problems I determine would be helpful beforehand, online resources, and a possible model depending on the subject.