What is your teaching philosophy?

As someone who has worked with all kinds of diverse students--from low-income urban students to wealthy suburban students and everything in between, I believe that all students are capable of great achievements. One of the first things I always stress with my students is that the mindset they bring to our sessions has a serious impact on how much they can expect to improve--those who approach learning with excitement and humility always see the greatest growth. I strive to not only teach my students the content they're looking for, but also instill in them a thirst for learning on a deeper level that will stay with them for a lifetime.

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

During my first session with any student, I feel it is critically important to assess where the student's ability is before I begin to design a game plan for their growth. Too often, I've seen educators attempt to treat students with scattershot or blanketed methods, which often leaves struggling students feeling helpless and advanced students feeling bored. I strive to meet my students at their current level and then customize a learning plan for each and every one of them that will produce the greatest possible results in the shortest amount of time.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

一个学生转变成一个独立的学习者not come by asking them to regurgitate facts. It comes by instilling a deeper, more lasting passion for learning--one that extends far beyond our tutoring sessions and into their daily lives.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

In order to motivate a student, one must first understand their personality on some level. Once I have a sense of their interests, hobbies, and goals, I can then begin to use language that motivates them by reminding them that success in the classroom can greatly help them become the type of person they strive to be.

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

Often times, the mistake I see educators make is that they try to "beat a student over the head" with one approach several times, shaking their head when the student fails to grasp the concept. This is not the student's fault--it is the educator's. When I see that one particular approach isn't working for a student, I attack the problem from an entirely different angle until one clicks for the student.

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

The most common reason that students struggle with reading comprehension, in my experience, is that they have been pressured to read quickly so as to appear "smart" in front of their teachers or peers. Students must understand that slow and steady wins the race when it comes to reading--oh, and rereading is critically important and too often untaught, too.