What is your teaching philosophy?

I like to focus on concepts rather than the problem at hand. While examples can be useful, I don't like to think about the exact numbers involved. Rather, I like to draw connections to other problems whenever possible!

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

I don't think there is a "typical" first session with a student. I think it depends on the student and their needs. If they're preparing for a test, I would go through a review of a lot of general topics and try to gauge where the student is having problems. If the tutoring will be ongoing, I would try to gauge the student's current knowledge and ability, and then use that to fuel future lessons.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

In addition to textbooks, the Internet can be a valuable resource. If a student is struggling, and they know what the concept is called, they can usually learn a lot through doing a google search (watching YouTube videos, looking up examples, etc.). In addition, as I mentioned in one of my other responses, focusing on concepts is usually a good way to extend what you already know to other, similar concepts and keep building up!

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I think it's good to positively reinforce students whenever they do something correctly. If they don't get it right away, you can provide quick hints, but I think it's important to make the student feel like they did a lot of the thinking involved in solving the problem. That way they KNOW they can solve the problem, and that should help them stay motivated in the future.

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

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or a concept, I would try to start with what they already know and work from there. I think it's important to build on fundamentals, rather than just taking a leap into something that seems big and scary.

What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?

I like asking LOTS of questions. It helps me gauge where a student is and what they already know. It also helps me evaluate if the student is lost.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?

I would allow them to feel like they did most of the work to solve a problem and give positive feedback whenever possible. That way they feel like they can do it again on a similar problem (all by themselves!).

What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?

Asking questions is my favorite technique to gauge learning. Additionally, if I can set up a similar situation and the student can solve that problem on their own, then I feel confident that they understand the material.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Most of the time, students already know how they learn best. Asking a student what they need from you (example problems, overview of concepts, etc.) is a good way to get started. Beyond that, being responsive to the student's progress is a good way to monitor what strategies work well.

What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?

For many math subjects, the internet is actually a great resource. If you know the name of the concept, then you can usually find lots of step-by-step example problems. If a student would prefer a more structured resource, I would then turn to textbooks, workbooks, or other book formats.