My philosophy is that all students can learn no matter where they come from or what their current education level is.

A typical first session would involve 5-10 minutes of getting to know one another, and then I would give an assessment to see where the student is academically.

I can help a student become an independent learner by making the lessons fun and interesting. Students want to continue learning on their own if they enjoy the subject!

I would help a student stay motivated by encouraging him or her. Learning can be challenging, but I always make sure the questions I am asking are broken down into manageable pieces that will lead the student to success.

If a student faces challenges, I back up and ask an easier question. I then lead up to the harder question until the student understands it. If the student still doesn't understand, I will explain the answer to the student, ask him or her to repeat it, and quiz him or her on it later.

For students who struggle with reading comprehension, I first make sure we read together. Sometimes comprehension is lost because the student doesn't know a word. Then, I ask questions frequently throughout the story so that by the time we are finished, I can ask challenging questions that will be easier to answer.

The most important strategies I use are read aloud, stop-and-jot, and open-ended questions. I make sure the questions are broken down and that they are able to relate to the questions. I also make sure that some questions are based on opinion and some are rooted in facts.

I would keep a student engaged by reading or writing about something he or she is interested in. For example, if a student enjoys watching football, we would read a text about football. Overtime we would read harder texts, but getting the student hooked is the first step.

I always use the technique of asking questions that lead to more questions. I try my best to refrain from giving any answers at all so that the student can critically think. I would then have the student complete an assessment or teach me the subject.

I build student confidence by always staying positive! Learning is scary because no one likes to fail. I never make my students feel like failures, even if they get an answer wrong. I encourage them to think differently until we get there!

I evaluate needs by giving assessments. This may be a formal test or quiz, an informal exit ticket, or a few questions throughout the lesson.

I adapt my tutoring by making the questions easier or harder based on the student's needs. It is important to make sure that all students grow, but all students start from a different platform. It is important to figure out where a student currently is and make sure he or she grows after each lesson.

I typically use paper, pen, books, and computers during my sessions (depending on the age). For younger students, I have puppets and flashcards. For older students, I like to use technology so that I can help prepare them for college.