What is your teaching philosophy?

All students are different, so all students need to be taught differently. It is important to give each student time that is completely focused on and tailored to them and their needs.

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

In a typical first session, I would get to know the student both academically, as well as beyond academics. I would want to know what their favorite classes are, what subjects are easiest for them, what subjects they struggle with, what they do for fun, etc. Then I would get into the subject matter that they need help with and figure out specifically what we will be working on and how we can effectively work on it together.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help a student become an independent learner by helping them to develop study skills and organization techniques that they can use for the rest of their education.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would encourage the student to create a small reward system for him or herself. For example, after studying for an hour, take a fifteen-minute break. After succeeding on an exam, treat yourself to some Chipotle.

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

I would go back over the concept and try to explain it differently and use different methods (visual, verbal, etc.) until the student understands the topic and can successfully explain it back to me.