My philosophy on teaching is simple. I believe that every student is teachable; you just need to find the right method to reach them.

In my first session with a student, I would want to find out a little bit about their background first. I feel that having that knowledge will help lay a solid foundation for success, in that I will have an idea of how to best reach that student.

In order to help a student become an independent learner, I would give them small tasks to accomplish that I know they would be successful with. By doing this, it will begin to foster a sense of accomplishment and confidence within the student and drive them to desire to want more.

In order to help a student stay motivated, I would break down a task into smaller steps and create mini-goals for them. This way the student would not feel so overwhelmed, and would be able to still gain a sense of accomplishment, even if it is at a slower pace.

When a student has difficulty learning a new skill or concept, I start off by trying to pinpoint exactly where the trouble lies. From there, I can then create a game plan to help that student master the skill or concept at hand.

When it comes to reading comprehension, I break down the concept into smaller bits so that it is not so overwhelming. I instruct my students to look for key words and phrases that will stick with them to help them gain that comprehension of what they're reading.

When starting to work with a new student, it is most important to gain the trust of both the student and their parent. If the student sees that the parent entrusts the teacher, then the student is more likely to trust the teacher as well. Once this has occurred, it allows for a much more successful opportunity for learning.

In order to help a student become excited about an area in which they are struggling, I would start by trying to tie in some of their likes and hobbies to that subject matter. I would also give the student a little bit of information on myself in relation to the subject matter, so that they may see that I am able to relate to them.

In order to check for student comprehension of a specific subject matter, I would assess them in a way that best suited their learning style. For example, if I'm dealing with a kinesthetic learner in the area of math, I would ask them to show me how to solve a problem using manipulatives, rather than simply writing it all out.

I am able to build a student's confidence in a specific subject area by pointing out their accomplishments in those areas, no matter how small they may be. I believe that if a student can see small progress in an area that they struggle in, it can give them the motivation to keep going.

I evaluate a student's needs by simply having a conversation with them to find out what they feel their strong points and not so strong points are. From that point, I can then create a plan of action to help a student achieve more.

I adapt my tutoring to the needs of my students by taking their individual learning styles into account.

The materials I use during tutoring vary depending on the subject at hand, and the student I am working with. I like to be able to have my materials be relevant and useful to all involved.