What is your teaching philosophy?

Einstein once said "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." I focus very strongly on talking with my students like people and finding the common ground for what we're learning about.

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

Tell a little bit about myself and give an overview of how our sessions will progress. I'll also want to find out about the student, including their learning styles, reasons for the session, and what their motivations are with learning.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Knowledge is power, and there is a moment when that sense of potential "clicks" in a student's mind and the thirst that was once ignored is now impossible to overlook. There are many different ways to do this, but a lot can do with the relationship between the student and me, fostering self-confidence, knowing how to ask the right questions, and knowing how to evaluate the answers that we find.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would identify and minimize distractions, as well as making manageable short-term goals, along with consistent positive reinforcement and encouragement from me while also staying realistic about expectations.