What is your teaching philosophy?

First I like to see how knowledgeable the student is with the material, and then I like to break down problems to make them easier to understand. After the student begins to grasp the concepts, I like to let them lead, assisting them whenever they come across any problems. Once we've established they know the material, I like to teach different shortcuts, or alternate ways to solve the problems to reach a solution.

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

I like to get to know the student; their strengths, weaknesses, and also what teaching style works best for them. If they have previously graded work, I like to look it over so I can see their strengths and areas of improvement. I also like to get to know them as a person, which I feel helps the student-tutor relationship.

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

I've learned that every student is different, so I've become adept at learning multiple ways to solve problems. If one way doesn't work, we simply try different methods until we find the one that helps the student grasp the concept the easiest.

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

Typically, I try to make the subject relatable to the student. I've found it much easier and more exciting to learn the material when it's presented in a language you understand.

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

After the student has learned the material, I like to make up similar problems and see if they can solve them. I also like to mix up the different types of problems to prepare them for whatever they may see on their homework or tests.

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

When they're grasping concepts, I like to compliment them and highlight what they did great to boost their confidence. If they're having difficulty with the material, I like to constructively criticize them, so that even if they don't understand the material, they are still motivated to learn it.

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

Different students respond to different methods, and my passion for math has allowed me to learn many different ways of learning material. I like to try different methods of learning the material, choosing whichever method works best for the student.