What is your teaching philosophy?

The differences of each student should be channeled to fuel the classroom experience. I use research-based methods that will engage and empower.

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

Introduce myself and my methods, allow the student to self-identify areas of instruction that are of the highest priority to them, and allow the student to experience what a lesson with me can do for their progress.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I do this throughout the lesson by encouraging research, demonstrating digital citizenship behaviors, and fostering sustainable skills that have both local and far-reaching impacts on the global community.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Motivation can wane or become boredom when the student feels that the material isn't relevant to their personal trajectory. I combat this by getting to know the student, incorporating their interests, and using critical thinking questions.

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

I would break information down into chunks that the student can process with better success, model a positive outlook, and show the student how the material could be relevant to them.

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

Explicit modeling of the strategies one by one is important. Then I would discuss where and when each strategy is used, and prompt the student to describe when he or she sees those strategies being used. We would take the skill apart and practice using it, followed by a short practice assessment.

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

The student needs to be able to feel anticipation for his or her learning. I do this by employing a catchy headline for the lesson. The student can see how the course material fits their wants and needs. I typically use web content, digital projects, and interpersonal communication to bring the classroom alive.

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

I focus on the student's interests, finding out what they are good at, and use that as a lever in the right direction. I use encouragement frequently, and inform the student's parents of jobs well done.

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

I informally prompt the student to explain in his or her own words what to do or what the material is about. I present guided opportunities and then independent practice. Finally, I apply their knowledge to the real word in open-ended tasks.

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

By scaffolding the student's progress bit by bit until they can perform by themselves. At first I would model almost 100% of the material, then let the student demonstrate their independence after mastering the concepts one at a time.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

A student typically already knows what their needs are and will tell a tutor. I then identify what the student's work needs are from past work that they present. A student may simply need to reorganize their thoughts about one part and relearn another part. A brief pretest will let the student indicate what they need.

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

Every student is different, so teaching style must vary for each individual. Through pretests, identifying areas of need and student interests, and employing open-ended questions that allow student investigation, the student becomes the master on their own terms.

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

Web-based video content, real-world examples, digital portfolios, and practice that mirrors what students will want to know as global citizens.