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

In a first session, time must be spent getting acquainted with a student. It's important that I learn about a student's aspirations, strong/weak subjects, and likes/dislikes so I can fit lessons to the individual.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can teach a student to become an independent learner in two ways. First, I can help them become better seekers of information. A simple web search can yield almost any information with the right direction. Second, I can help students break a big problem into a smaller problem. A systematic approach can allow a student to guide themselves to the answers that they seek.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

As a classroom teacher, student motivation is a topic that is always on my mind. I can help students stay motivated by keeping lessons interesting, to-the-point, and relevant to their daily life.

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

In a situation where a student is having difficulty with a skill or concept, I ask specific questions to identify exactly where their thought process goes "off the rails." When I have an understanding of where their problems start, I then focus on that area with specific examples, questions, video clips, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. As soon as they demonstrate an understanding of one problem area, we use that to build toward a further understanding of the material.

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

During a tutoring lesson, I use pictures, online quizzes, short reading sections, video clips, interactive games, etc. Depending on the lesson, I might use some or all of these.