What is your teaching philosophy?

Firm but encouraging. The most important thing is to connect with the students and work with them at their level, rather than at the level they "should" be.

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

Get to know them. Ask them how they feel about the subject we are to be working on, and see what *they* think they need help on. Lastly, we would get started working, but as more of an assessment session. I'd leave them with a good taste in their mouth about tutoring.