What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is GOAL oriented in an easygoing, fun, memorable learning environment. Students need to learn so they come to be, and I want to give them exactly that opportunity. If they do not understand it one way, I will show them an alternate way. I will continue until the student is accomplished and confident.

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

Once we get past introductions, I will assess the student’s current level of comprehension. From there, I will devise a plan to expedite education and teach some mental tricks and mnemonics along the way for easy retention.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Independence is simply repetition. The brain can be trained to do this routinely without much thought through many ways. I will start with the easiest way and take the student through as many as needed based on age and education level.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Interest is the key to motivation. I work with severely diagnosed ADD students who have no interest in being in the classroom. Once the student sees that learning can really be fun and helpful on a day-to-day basis- I rarely have an issue.

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

Simply find another way to explain it to the student- that is what my job is.

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

My master's is in reading specialization, therefore I have many ways to encourage and foster not only a confident, comprehending student...but also a love for reading will form as well.

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

Let the student guide the direction the first few lessons go. Once we "get a feel for each other" in terms of learning style and teaching style, I tend to slide into the role of being the controller of each meeting. This allows the student and I to be headed in the right direction with all learning.

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

Learning is always easiest when it is something you are interested in. Together we would find a topic of style of the subject and use what we are learning at that point. I have also been known to take my lessons outside and toss a football around with my 4th graders while reciting multiplication facts back and forth.

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

I use patience, persistence and anything that helps the information to be retained by the student. I have been known to sing!!!!

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

I allow the student to achieve success in the subject in any way possible.