How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Taking ownership of your learning is a great way to become more engaged in your learning, and, frankly, makes learning much more enjoyable. Developing strong study skills, organizing your thoughts, and learning how to manage your time are important skills for becoming an independent learner.

What is your teaching philosophy?

Learning and academic success looks different for every student. A huge component of my teaching philosophy is the recognition of multiple learning styles. As an educator, it is so important to recognize that what works for one student, may not work for another. That is why in my lessons and curriculum, I strive to incorporate elements of as many learning styles as possible to ensure each student is given the opportunity to feel comfortable in their learning experience. I also believe that being able to deliver curriculum in so many ways keeps things fresh and exciting for both me, as the teacher, and for my students.

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

It is important for a student to feel comfortable learning from their teacher. A lot of our time in our first session would involve us discussing what subject areas a student likes and dislikes, academic goals, and life outside of the classroom.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I am able to relate well to students. This allows me to keep the learning environment loose, fun, and engaging. This also helps students from getting burnt out. I am not afraid to take brain breaks or to bust out some informal teaching techniques to help students stay focused.

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

Reading and comprehension can be intimidating for a student who is struggling. I would help the student gain confidence and feel comfortable learning by finding literature the student is interested in. We could work through this literature together, and I could help them develop strong organizational and study skills as we go along.

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

It is important to understand where a student is struggling and where they are excelling. I have had a lot of success focusing first on what a student does well, and going from there.

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

Assignments and subjects in school can seem far-removed or irrelevant to a student's life, so I would first learn the student's interests, hobbies, etc. After learning what makes a student tick, I could relate the assignments we are working on to things that genuinely interest them.

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