What is your teaching philosophy?

Every student is capable of improving with the right tools and a confident attitude. It is a teacher's position to offer both.

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

First sessions are best used to gain an understanding of each other. Usually, I ask who my student is, what subjects they like, why they think they're doing poorly with this subject/assignment, and what do they believe will help them to complete the assignment or improve in the class. From there, we build an outline of how and what we need to accomplish that goal and begin moving towards it with the remaining time.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Students, often, are unaware that they already possess the talent to succeed, they just aren't directing it correctly. I give students the benefit of perspective and show them tips and tricks to approach subjects they find tricky in more manageable ways. Usually, this involves breaking down a subject or assignment so they can see the pieces and engage them singularly. When you know how something works, it's easier to understand it.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Motivation is always a matter of perspective. One of the things I find helpful is acknowledging the sensation of being overwhelmed while also putting that feeling into context. I allow students to vent and offer my own experiences to push them back into the game. I remind students often that they're never stupid or bad at something, but rather that they're not masters. I make it plain that even with my expertise, neither am I. Learning is a process we take together, and I'm not giving up on them so they can't either.

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

We'd try several approaches to see if one or more might help better clarify the skill/concept at hand. If none of them work, I'll ask a student to explain where they feel lost. Beyond that, we practice.

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

Practice. Comprehension is a balance of pace and engagement. These are skills you can only master if you're reading, so we'll find a level they're comfortable with to start. I acquire their baseline and steadily ramp up their abilities. It's slow work, but there are few substitutes for the fundamentals.

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

Conversation is key. I think the best strategy starts with being open and making that initial connection. When you have an atmosphere centered around their growth and not just their success, students tend to respond well to that as well.

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

I try my best to connect it to something they're passionate about. As much as all of us despise hearing it, the truth is that life utilizes all of the things we learn, even if we truly dislike them. As Mary Poppins would say "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down."

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

I'm not a fan of tests, especially knowing they'll have plenty of those to stress about, but I do find games, especially competitive ones to be particularly useful. I use prizes sometimes, but people generally like to win. Flashcards are a godsend in most fields of study.

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

With the reinforcement of their own abilities. I give them credit for every success and promote the fact that they're incredibly intelligent, even if they hadn't realized it before.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I value my ability to read people well, especially younger individuals. A good bit of my plan is based on my talent in that arena. However, I genuinely like to ask my students what they believe they need. Sometimes we're on the same page, and other times I discover they have needs I hadn't picked up on or anticipated. Sometimes we find ourselves creating a middle ground between their expectations and their actual needs.

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

Every student is different, so I could never give you an exact idea of how I make those corrections. What I can say, is that I enter each session with a standard plan of attack and very few assumptions. I'm always prepared to play it by ear, and since I try to make the sessions collaborative, I'm always open to student input.

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

I generally start with a pen and notepad. I take notes and create plans for the student to use in my absence until we see each other again. As more materials are needed, I'll incorporate them. I've got several books on history, English, and writing techniques. I also expect students to have the materials needed to ensure their own success.