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

I like to find out what my students' interests are outside of their academics, and then find clever ways to introduce those topics into our lessons.

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

Students seek tutoring because they are struggling with material, and usually that means they aren't able to discern things that might seem "trivial" to a tutor from things that are essential concepts. Unlike many tutors, that will perform trivial calculations or jot down things from memory to save time, I like to have my students answer these small questions for me. This boosts their confidence because it means they won't always be unsure or wrong when asked questions during a lesson.

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

Depending on the needs of the student and the subject, I generally work with blank pieces of white paper and multi-colored pens or markers. I also use my iPad as a resource to look up definitions, formulas, images, examples, and to check answers using Wolfram Alpha for large calculations.

What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe establishing a relaxed atmosphere and forming a friendly bond with students is key. Students seek out tutoring because the atmosphere of school and/or the relationship with their teacher is not working for them. It's silly to want to recreate that atmosphere or mimic that relationship as a tutor. I have to think outside the box, and I greatly enjoy it!

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

During my first session with a student I like to establish a timeline for major milestones related to subject at hand. Exam dates, project due dates, homework assignments, etc. are all things I like to be aware of so we can plan accordingly. For test prep students that will be wanting repeat lessons I like to start out with a diagnostic, either administered by me or at home by a parent, to get an idea of where the student is in relation to where they want to be.