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

In a first session, I try to ask the student what are they interested in outside of school, what they feel they do a great job in at school, and what they want to feel more confident in with their learning.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I believe you can help a child become more independent with their learning by getting them excited about a topic, encouraging them if they make a mistake, and celebrate their victories together!

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

I think back to where they started to have difficulty and try to scaffold the new information to a skill or concept that they do feel comfortable with until they understand the new concept.

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

I have found that showing that I am invested in their success and showing that I truly believe that they are capable of success goes a long way with even the most struggling student. From that, I can build a relationship with them that can lead to us working well together.

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

I've found that if a student can teach someone else or explain the new concept back to me, then they have been able to comprehend the lesson and have ownership over that new knowledge.

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

I build a student's confidence by celebrating their successes and praising them for their hard work.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I evaluate a student's needs based off of what their parents and teachers report to me, but also from the student's own words when describing how they feel about school and certain subjects.