I believe that every student is capable of learning and deserves the best possible opportunity to succeed in their education. When students are actively engaged in a subject, they actively participate in their learning. With proper facilitation and optimal learning conditions, all students can learn, enrich their knowledge, and, in turn, enrich their lives.

In a typical first session, I like to get to know the student and briefly discuss the subjects they enjoy in school, as well as their hobbies or extracurricular activities. I explain how I usually run my tutoring sessions and stress that I assign extra homework each time we meet, as this is the "practice" for what we discuss during our sessions. I usually relate this back to whatever hobby the student has, i.e. if the student enjoys sports, this extra homework is just like having practice during the week. If the student enjoys drama or the arts, this extra homework is how we practice our art. I explain the expectations I have of the student and ask the student what expectations they have of me.

Usually, within the first couple of sessions, I like to go over study and organizational habits. If the student is lacking in either one of these areas, then I will ask them for ideas as to how they can improve their study habits or organization. We will write these suggestions down, and I will share my experience with what I have personally been successful with and what my former students have been successful with in the past. Once we have come to an agreement on what could be done to improve the student's study and organizational habits, we will agree on a "plan" for the student.