What is your teaching philosophy?

Since I was a child being a teacher's assistant, I have always believed everyone can learn. This means being a model to your students on how you want them to learn. As an adult with a learning disability, the ability to learn is important. This implies learning along with the students and showing it's okay to make mistakes. When the students enter the classroom, the teacher needs to be prepared organized, and in a pleasant mood. No matter how your morning or night went, a teacher needs to be bright and shinning every day. A teacher's mood makes the classroom. Being organized is a number one priority the students see every day even when the teacher is not present. The teacher needs to have supplies accessible to the students when needed, but also have the teacher's own personal space. A teacher's methods must change with what he/she is teaching. Teaching is like being admired cook. The cook cannot prepare the same thing over and over again. The people will get tired of the food, plus not everyone likes the same thing. A teacher must do the same thing, and serve different methods with each lesson. This means using different styles and combing different styles at different times. This will help every student learn, because every student learns differently.

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

My goal for first session to get know my client/student, then set goal for each session. During the first two sessions, I like to learn how my student/client learns. I want to teach them according to their learning style.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I believe the biggest part of learning is knowing how you learn. What type of learn is the client/ student. Once you know if you are a visual, auditory, and/ or tactile learner, the client/ student will know how to study and what questions to ask.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

During the first session, the client and I need to set goals. Is the student/client motivation parent driven, sports driven, or personal? Depending on how the student is driven, I will know how to motivate the student. Motivating words always help!

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

If I have student struggling to learn something, I change how I teach them. The student/client may need a music, a crazy video, laughter, or just a break from learning. It all depends on the student/ client.

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

I was taught to use the four corner method and Cornell note taking strategies. I teach my client/student the same method if needed to help with comprehension.

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

When I first meet a client/ student, I found focusing on their strengths first is useful. I also explain my different teaching methods. A student/client may need different strategies to learn with; all students/clients are different. It all depends on the student/client and subject matter.

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

I have found most students get bored with an object or subject because they do not realize how much they use it every day. Once you show them they use it every day, it becomes more exciting. Make a game of learning and also make it fun.

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

To ensure my student/client understands the material, I have the student teach me or someone else. I have found students love to teach parents and grandparents what they have learned.

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

Confidence has to come from within a student/client. The student/client needs to be built up with motivating words and phrases, short term goals that are accomplished, and help from parents. The student/client needs to understand confidence is the belief within yourself; not others’ ability, or what others think of you.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I have in the past asked parents and the client’s/ student's teacher what their needs are. Sometimes the teacher's, parent's, and student's needs are different. I discuss this with the client/student and parents to make sure all needs are meet.

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

I teach according the learning style of my students. As a teacher, this means you need to be flexible. The student’s needs may differ by objective or subject. It all depends on the student. For example, a student may need crazy videos to remember a math equation, while for history he/she may need flashcards for memorizing dates and times.

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

The tutoring session depends on the student. I may need just paper and pencil for one student, while another student may need my iPad for short videos. It all depends on the student. I am usually very prepared for every situation. I have a teacher bag with iPad, iPhone, paper, pencil, different other pens, white boards, and markers.