What is your teaching philosophy?

I like to teach as slowly as necessary, and enjoy breaking down math and science problems. When it comes to more advanced topics, proofs are my favorite way to go about teaching when the student has a large amount of curiosity about the subject they are learning. Although just learning and memorizing procedures is a viable strategy for passing classes and tests, I believe in thoroughly understanding the subject, instead of just memorizing formulas.

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

At the beginning of the session I like to introduce myself and answer any appropriate questions that my student has about me or my academic background. I also like to get to know the student, if possible, in order to find the best and most efficient teaching styles for every student.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I help students become independent learners by showing them that the best way to succeed academically is by understanding, not memorizing. I teach students to always look for explanations as to why the material they're learning is true, rather than simply storing knowledge without thorough understanding.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

The best way to show keep a student motivated is by moving at the pace that works best for the student and ensuring that the student has a thorough understanding of every part of the subject before moving on. Advancing through a subject when the student does not properly understand is inefficient and counterproductive.

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

My first response is to slow down my teaching and break down the problem or chapter to the best of my ability in a way that I believe would benefit the student. If this still does not help the student understand, I like to walk a student through my personal thought process and how I go about understanding the subject, and then applying it.

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

In my opinion, students struggle with reading comprehension for two reasons: they can't focus on the source material, or they lack the vocabulary to understand what they are reading. In the first case I like to provide the student with tips for what helps me focus on the material when I don't find it interesting, while if the student lacks the vocabulary, I like to read through the material with them and have them write down every term they don't understand so that we can define it in colloquial terms together.