What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe in creating a comfortable and relaxed environment for all students. My mentality is to make the subject matter seem easier and less anxiety-inducing than when the material is introduced.

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

In a typical first session, I would ask a student how they want to work through his or her own material. Then, based off of that information, I can set up an organized plan that is conducive of learning in a way that applies to that specific student.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student to stay motivated in a certain subject by picking out little things that can apply to a particular area of interest! For example, you can connect math with many different games - or biology - with everyday questions about life.

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

A student struggling in reading comprehension has two options in my point of view. They can read a few paragraphs and then write a short summary sentence to help solidify the information. Or, the student can explain to me what they understood as the main takeaways. I believe that talking through a certain topic can help long-term learning.

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

First, I would work through the material with the student by doing examples and letting the student ask questions if they have any. Then, to make sure that the student is retaining the information I am giving, I would ask the student to work through an example and sort of teach me to the best of their ability.

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

If a student is having trouble with a concept, I would encourage him or her that the subject matter can be easily conquered. I would begin by explaining the concepts in a new and unique way. This way, the student can provide feedback to see if the new way of learning is helping them understand the difficult material.

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

The best strategy for me stems from math applications. When I had a tutor in grade school, she would always use blank white printer paper and neatly write out a problem and the steps to solve it for me to look at. This helped me attack the problems with confidence.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I would help a student become an independent learner by giving him or her study tips from my experience. Every individual and each subject have specific nuances where we can create a motif conducive of learning.

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

A student can get excited about a topic that they are struggling in by building confidence in the material. I would help the student get a hold of little aspects of the subject bit by bit, and in turn it would hopefully snowball into increased proficiency and overall confidence.

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

Building confidence can be done by allowing the student to understand that they can accomplish the material. The student can and will experience this for themselves. The fear of not being good enough is a real thing, and I have definitely experienced it. But, with the right support, anything can be accomplished.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

I can evaluate a student's needs by listening to what he or she asks of me and turning that information into an environment of optimal learning.

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

I can adapt my tutoring for any student's needs. I have experience working with students in all age groups and from all different cohorts. No matter where you come from or what your ability level is, the language of learning is still the same.

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

I use a wide variety of materials. I can work with any materials given to me by the students, and I can provide well-formulated exercises using what I can remember from my class experiences.