What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is to use questions and discussion to assess a student's current comfort level with the material, and then use participatory examples, metaphors and concepts to help them move forward by building on their existing understanding. While I sometimes recommend memory-based tools for remembering names or concepts, I de-emphasize memorization as a learning tool and focus on concepts and visuals. All students learn best in different ways, and I think it's critical for teachers and tutors to be flexible in how material is presented and questions are answered.

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

I typically will first explore their difficulties with the material, their objectives in the short- and long-term (as appropriate), and, if possible, learn a bit about their preferred learning style. Then we can form a plan for moving forward together.