What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe in modeling instruction, attention to detail, listening to students, adapting to individual needs and learning styles, and multiple methods of instruction and teaching.

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

Listen to the student and their parent(s), ask questions as to their areas of need, demonstrate how to work out problems or find answers, and work with the student to develop appropriate and effective study and homework habits.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Students become independent and interested learners when they have experienced confidence, success, and support. I would provide all of these to students and their families through attention to learning styles and needs, and by proper and detailed attention to subjects and areas of instructional needs.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Students stay motivated by having an interest in learning and a willingness to work with those who are genuinely interested in helping them be successful. I would build relationships and establish rapport with students and families so they felt more comfortable and at ease in working on difficult subject areas and homework assignments.

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

Building strong readers and improving reading test scores, fluency, and comprehension is an area of great strength for me. I would apply continual supports in these areas to help students increase their reading abilities and aptitude and to help students learn to want to read and learn to love to read.

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

I would provide additional support by demonstrating how to do certain problems, how to find answers and solutions independently, by being patient and listening, and by providing learning breaks when needed and appropriate.

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

Using multiple strategies and paying close attention to different learning styles among different students helps to ensure a high level of success. Remembering the student as a person and meeting his/her needs is a vital part of any teaching or instruction.