How would you help a student stay motivated?

Bringing energy to a boring subject and keeping the material exciting, new and relatable.

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

Try a different approach and analogy to something in their worldview. Some students learn by lecture or absorb by reading etc.

What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe anyone can foster learning if the process is tailored. Students learn in different ways and different rates. Some students may need lectures, while some may absorb subject matter through reading it. My favorite method is the "See one, do one, teach one;" an effective strategy.

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

I like to get know the student and establish communication and rapport. Next I want to find out their strengths and weakness on the subject matter. In order for the student reveal the solutions on their own, I need to understand where the student is coming from and how to effectively communicate clues, using key points or by example.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Independent learning requires discipline and the genuine interest in problem solving for self-gratification and validity (the why). Simply by changing the student habits and building a platform of core skills to fall back on when in doubt. Of course the king of learning and problem solving is practice, practice, practice (the how).

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

Reading comprehension requires making the connection from understanding what is being read. Reading comprehension is difficult if the vocabulary of the text must be defined. One example is reading the fine print of a contract or the ingredients on a can of goods. At times explaining the text in simple terms can catalyze the connection.

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

I would like to build the student's confidence with some easier problems and allow the student to get their hands on the problem or see it from relatable terms as it becomes more difficult. The student has the ability and can find the answer. Once the belief is in place the subject matter seems less daunting.

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

I expect the student to describe, formulate or illustrate the concepts and ideas. The student will calculate the result to connect the concept with mathematical accuracy and representation.

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

Start off slow and methodical to build up momentum on easy basic concepts. As every problem increases in difficulty their core skills become second nature. The difficulty diminishes, thus increasing their confidence.