What is your teaching philosophy?

Every student learns differently, so it is important to teach differently based on each student's needs and interests.

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

Have a conversation with the student and get to know them; find out what they like inside and outside of school. Next, have them begin the subject matter by showing me what they are capable of, and assisting as soon as needed.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Teach a student good study skills and habits. Teach them strategies that help with reading comprehension, and teach reasoning and deduction skills.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Go back to the basics. Repetition is okay, but sometimes the material can be presented in a different way (like use manipulatives or visuals). Take things step by step and don't do too much at once. Once the student masters one step, then you can move on, but not too fast and not too much at a time.

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

Teach the student how to use context clues. Talk about the key vocabulary words before reading a complete text. Teach the student how to ask themselves questions while they read by modeling it for them.

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

Use example problems that are in the context of things the student is interested in. Make goals together, and show the student's progress each session.

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

I ask questions occasionally to see if the student is following along and keeping up. After each new skill has been taught, trying a few example questions is very important. The best way to know if a student understands is to see if they can teach it back to me.

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

I try to show them what they're doing right, and turn mistakes into learning opportunities. Going at the student's own pace is important to help them not be overwhelmed and to gain confidence.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Assessments are the best way to see where a student is at - this can be answering questions, reading aloud, writing, etc.; and then pay close attention to what strategies the student uses while accomplishing the tasks. I learn a lot more about a student's needs in the way that they solve a problem than whether or not they get the problem right.