What is your teaching philosophy?

I am a strong believer that the basics of a subject are the key to working through the more complicated problems. Getting a student to work up from the basics and recall aspects of a subject they may have forgotten often proves useful in their understanding.

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

In a first session I would get to know the student, their likes/dislikes, how they learn best, and what their hobbies are. Incorporating their interests into the session promotes intrigue and enjoyment of the subject, creating a conducive learning environment.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

To help a student become an independent learner I would aid them in developing a learning process that helps them retrieve basic information on a subject, then build from those basics to comprehend the more difficult aspects. It is important that the student creates their individual learning process, often different from my own, because they will learn best on their own working in a manner that they are comfortable with.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I help students stay motivated by incorporating their interests into the study sessions. Students will learn best if there are aspects of their passions in the learning process.

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

I refer to the basics. When a student is having difficulty I advise that they take a step back before becoming frustrated. Stepping back to a part of the study they are comfortable with, then walking them through the new area step-by-step avoids frustration, once a student is frustrated in a subject they are less receptive of the information.