What is your teaching philosophy?

I think students learn best when they are learning something that (a.) is interesting to them or (b.) will help them in their future career or personal life. I firmly believe that good researching, writing, and critical thinking skills are important for everyone, but I try very hard to find ways to make work relevant to students' lives.

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

In a first session, I would get to know the student and find out about his or her needs. I would ask what he or she would like to accomplish during our tutoring sessions, and I would try to brainstorm a roadmap for us to get there. I would probably give the student some ideas about things to work on prior to the next session, depending on what particular needs seem most pressing.