What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is utilizing all tools available to help the student learn the material. Explaining material in a different way than what has been done before and making sure the student truly understands and can apply the material, and not just memorize and recite the information.

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

在第一次会议我首先想知道什么the student expects to learn and master with my help. Secondly, I would like to know more about how much the student knows about the material they are struggling with. I also want to get an idea of how this information has been explained in the past so I can explain it in a different way for the student to understand.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I would help a student become an independent learner by helping them learn proper and helpful study habits that foster learning. I would encourage them when they make strides in their learning to stay motivated and not to give up hope that they can master the material.

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

I would first try to understand more specifically where the student is having trouble understanding the material. From there I would try to find ways to present the information in a new way that may help the student understand.

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

Reading comprehension is all about understanding and being able to apply the information you are reading. To help with this, it is important to make sure the student knows how to research more about what they are reading to fill in the gaps in their knowledge and understanding of the material. It is important that the student can identify what aspect of the reading they are not understanding, and then know how to find more information about it.

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

When starting to work with a student I take the time to identify what the student's goals are. If they want to prepare for an exam, I take the time to talk with the student to gather all the information and topics that will be covered on the test. Then I help the student organize their information and make a study plan that works for their schedule and goals. After all of this has been accomplished, I help the student learn to take notes and gather the information in a way that makes sense to them and helps them to organize the information in their head. From here I am able to help quiz and test the student to help identify areas that need more focus and attention.

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

Getting a student excited/engaged in a subject they are struggling in is all about making small goals that can easily be achieved along the way to make the subject easier and less stressful to study. When the student is overwhelmed, stressed and discouraged, then it's time to take a step back, gather your thoughts, make a plan, and take the material step-by-step toward your goal. I am here to help the student along that path.

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

Techniques used to assure the student understands the material would include practice test questions on the topic, as well as asking the student to teach the material to me as if I were the student. Difficult material is understood better and on a deeper level when the student is forced to teach it to someone else.

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

Building confidence requires the student to see that they have the ability to understand the material. To do this I would take small topics and teach them to the student, and then have them answer some questions about that topic. When the student sees they are able to master the material when it is broken down into manageable topics, their confidence will slowly build.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

To identify the student's needs, I talk with the patient to get a better understanding of what it is that is keeping the student from reaching their potential and mastering the material. In an effort to understand the student's needs, I ask the student questions to better understand their grasp of the material and identify areas where improvement is needed to help boost confidence.

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

Adapting to the student's needs to me is about utilizing as many avenues of communication and explanation as possible. This can mean utilizing video, diagrams, drawings, step-by-step procedures, flow charts, anything that is different than what the student has seen before when learning the material.

What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?

Texts, PowerPoints, Video, Drawings, Diagrams, Flowcharts-- all of these things help to present the information differently than maybe the student has seen before.