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

I would start with quick introductions and ask the student which is the best way that he/she learns, and try to adapt my lessons to meet their needs.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I can help a student become an independent learner by helping the student develop certain skills to practice concepts, and then let them apply what they have learned into their own practice. I will guide them through at the beginning, and then I will ask them to do the problem themselves.

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

If a student has difficulty learning a concept, I would try to make the problem an application problem rather than a problem with just numbers. I would try to apply it to everyday math to make the problem easier to understand. If that doesn't work, I would show the student videos and other different methods to approach the problem.