What is your teaching philosophy?

Be yourself. If I am myself around students, then I am comfortable; and if I am comfortable, then they are comfortable; and if they are comfortable, they are more open to learning.

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

Establish trust and a relationship, as well as determine where they are in the material and what they need help with. Also very important, I would ask them what they felt they needed help with. Most important, I would find something they needed help with and make sure they left the first session feeling confident with it.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I don't provide answers. I provide the means to solve the problems and answer the questions on their own. I show them how to do things, instead of doing them for the student.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

There is no feeling, in my opinion, greater than the feeling of accomplishment one gets when one solves something that has been difficult for them, or finally understands what they once thought too complicated to understand. I work for students to feel intrinsically motivated off of that feeling.

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

Work with them to see why they are having trouble, and see what approaches they have used. Then find a different approach to show them that skill/concept.