What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is to make sure the student is truly learning the material, as opposed to only understanding it. It's important to make sure that the student can solve the problem on their own after we walk through it!

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

In a typical first session, I'd start by gauging the student's comfort level in the subject. I'd ask them to show me examples of practice problems that they understand and questions they are having trouble with. Then I'd give them a couple of sample problems to do so that I can understand the student's learning style and skill level.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

It's important that the student is able to explain ideas and solve problems on his or her own. In order to ensure that the student becomes an independent learner, I won't simply show her how to solve a problem, but instead prompt her to find the solution on her own.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated by keeping the tutoring sessions light and stress-free. If he is getting frustrated with a problem, I would put that one aside and find a different question that can raise the student's confidence. Once a student is feeling better about his understanding of the subject, he'll be more motivated to return to the tough problem and figure it out.

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

I would pinpoint exactly what the student doesn't understand about the concept, and try to break it down in the simplest way possible. I would relate that concept to other things that the student has already learned, and use tangible examples (when possible) so that the student can visualize the concept better.

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

I would tell the student that it's important to be an active reader. It's very helpful to keep a pen in hand while reading through the passages, and underline anything that seems important. It can also be helpful to read the questions before reading the article so that you know what information you're looking for.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?

I tend to get most excited about classes when I feel confident in my ability to perform. I think the best way to engage a student is to help her succeed -- once she starts seeing her grades improve and understands the course content, she'll be more inclined to give a serious effort.