What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe effective teaching requires the teacher to wear many hats. The teacher must act as a coach, showing their students how to purposefully practice. The teacher must also motivate and engage students to spark interest in the subject and world around them. Most of all, a teacher must use compassion and take students' failures as his own as well as their successes.

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

In a typical first session with a student, I would first try to connect with them to try to understand their motivations, frustrations, hopes, and dreams. I would also hope to understand their learning environment and any possible hindrances to their learning. Then, I would try to establish a baseline of their current knowledge relative to where they would like to be.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

A motivated student with a clear plan can achieve anything. To become motivated, the student must appreciate learning for their own reasons. I will then help to make a clear plan.