What is your teaching philosophy?

To quote my favorite green Jedi, "Do or do not. There is no try." Point being, the best way to acquire skills/knowledge is through doing that which you seek to learn. My teaching philosophy is centered around this idea of non-pressured independent thought. Students should feel encouraged to try to implement concepts as much as possible. Yes, mistakes are inevitable, but they are also fundamental to building successful habits.

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

The best way to teach a student is to know a student. I'd typically spend my first session getting to know the student on a more personal level so that I can get a better sense for what kind of learner they might be.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By establishing healthy educational habits, students can become self-reliant. This means practicing skills and applying them practically, even when they are not bound by an assignment. I will work to make sure that every student is working on the right skills for them and refining practices that work for their personal style.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

This is why getting to know your students on a personal level is so important. Part of the problem with traditional learning models is that it does not cater towards the individual student's interest. I would work hard to make sure that the material, assignment, etc. was focused around what the student is actually interested in learning and applying in real life!

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

Simple. Get to know the student. What are they passionate about? What excites them? The answers to those questions are the solution to active engagement.

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

Reading comprehension is usually a testament to how well a student can organize themes or patterns of thought throughout a text. One of the best ways to improve reading comprehension (which is something that can always be improved) is to break down a text into its basic thematic elements so that they might be more easily understood. Aside from this type of organizational improvement, I would also aim to have a student read in "sprints" rather than "marathons." Meaning that comprehension improves when students don't feel pressured by having to complete 50+ pages without debriefing what they are reading.