What is your teaching philosophy?

I focus on differentiation within my classroom. All students learn at a different pace, and it is important to allow every individual to feel comfortable with their learning style. When tutoring, I am easy to get along with and enjoy getting to know my clients on a personal level. A strong relationship is key to successful learning.

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

I want to understand your academic goals so that our tutoring sessions can be as productive as possible.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Since I am a special education teacher, I specialize in providing students with the necessary tools to help accommodate their learning differences. I try to help students with learning the rules and procedures to problems so that they may apply these to similar problems in the future.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I think personal relationships are important when tutoring 1-on-1. My clients feel comfortable with asking me questions and expressing their frustration. As long as we can maintain a positive relationship, I am confident I can help you in areas you struggle with. With a trusting relationship, clients feel comfortable asking questions and getting the help they need.

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

I struggle with reading since I have a hard time focusing. There are many techniques to get around focusing issues, and it is a matter of finding which ones work for you.

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

I like to let you try to solve the problem on your own before I make any comments. I am very good at seeing your mistakes and understanding your thought process. Once I see you solve a few problems on your own, it is easy for me to see what you struggle with.

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

I have positive relationships with my students, and in my experience, they enjoy working with me, even if it is in a subject they don't like. I am here to help you, not criticize you. I am very patient and will not make you feel dumb for struggling.

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

Depending on your learning style, I can teach the material through visual diagrams, analogies, or other examples. Often, a concept can be taught many different ways. As a special education teacher, this is part of my daily practice, since I teach students who differ greatly in the way they learn.

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

My patience goes a long way. I never make students feel dumb, because the truth is that you are only confused because the information was not presented in the correct way. I will work with you until you are confident you understand the concept. I am a very good listener, and I pick up on subtle learning cues. This helps me in the future cater to how you learn and what works for you. It's all about giving you what you need to succeed. If you feel successful, you will be confident.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I listen well to what you say and how you approach a problem. I have tutored many students and am good at helping them with their individual needs by listening and watching. My qualifications in special education give me extra insight to cognitive processing, and I am able to assess how you learn.

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

Often, I will help you through your strengths. Since many math concepts are related, it is easy to come up with a similar problem that is easy for you to understand. All I need to do is focus on concepts you already are confident with.

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

Usually, I have a pen and paper so that I can draw diagrams and related examples. However, with online tutoring, I can use a whiteboard so that you can see me as I present the problem.