What is your teaching philosophy?

My goal is the get you the best grade possible in your course or on your exam. I work to teach you the methods your instructor wants you to use.

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

I would go over the student's goals and work to identify any trouble areas. Does the student know the information, and just needs help constructing an argument? Or would our time be better spent going over the course material, to ensure understanding?

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Improving one's study techniques allows a student to become more independent, so that by the time we meet my job is only to help revise, rather than teach from scratch. By having a base of knowledge in a subject, the student can then focus on gaining a deeper understanding of important concepts.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

It's important to always look to the next thing. Even if an exam or assignment didn't go as well as hoped, viewing it as an opportunity to learn can be motivating. Look over the assignment, see where you can improve, and work to incorporate what you've learned in the next paper or test.

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

Everyone learns differently. As I get to know a student, I try to incorporate a variety of study methods. For history, flashcards are a common way to memorize information. For me though, I prefer outlines. Some find concepts make more sense when discussed in-detail, while others prefer a big-picture approach. Working with the student to find what works best for them is critical.