What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe learning can and should be fun! It's not necessarily about what the information is, but how the information is presented.

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

Get to know the student personally. I want to know their likes and dislikes, and what they perceive to be their strengths and weaknesses. From this point, we can focus on creating a positive learning experience that caters to their unique needs.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

First, we must pinpoint the strategies that are most effective for their learning style. A student is more willing to learn something independently if they can notice the positive results. Therefore, we must work together to form individualized techniques that best reward the student's efforts.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Setting manageable, attainable goals is crucial for motivation. Working towards something specific is substantially more motivating than work for the sake of work.

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

First, it is okay for students to admit when they face challenges. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and we all struggle with some subjects. Then, I would explain the concept in as many ways as possible. A certain math problem could make sense to me one way, but there are typically several ways to explain one math problem. We must approach the problem at every angle!

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

Using synonyms, analogies, and imagery can be very helpful with reading comprehension. Reframe the passage with similar vocabulary and concepts that may be easier to understand. It is also useful to break a work down into smaller component parts. A large piece of reading can be overwhelming, but analyzing smaller sections is less stressful.