What is your teaching philosophy?

If a student does not understand a problem, I break it down to the very fundamentals until it makes sense, and then build up an understanding from there.

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

Ask the student to give me a rundown of everything that they know about the particular subject, including areas that they are struggling in, in order to assess where they stand.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Whenever a student has a question, I first ask them how they think they should solve it, instead of doing it for them immediately. This helps them to first evaluate the problem independently, and think about how to solve a problem.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Encourage them throughout the session, whether or not they get the answers correct. If they are getting it correct, the encouragement allows them to be confident that they are doing well. If they are not getting the answers correct, the encouragement is designed to push them in the right direction, and hopefully to motivate them to push through on their own to figure out the answer on their own.