What is your teaching philosophy?

To ensure students use what they learn, not just for the test but for themselves.

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

Walk through what sort of expectations the coursework will have for them, and identify areas they need bolstering in.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Due to my engineering background, I have a strong interest in teaching the process behind the work rather than simply seeking the correct answer; internalizing this will help students be better prepared for a wide variety of problems.

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

Going back over the basics leading up to a concept is a good way to pinpoint exactly where the difficulty is, and trying different approaches that may be better suited to the student's style.

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

Having someone to discuss what you read with is the fastest way to build your comprehension of the material.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Staying motivated comes from a connection to the material; if I can link what we're studying to something the student is interested in, or has an interest in doing in the future, I believe they'll be much more committed to learning.

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

I always like to do a brief walkthrough of the basics of a subject, because that is the biggest source of mistakes or misunderstanding later on. Then we can go over strengths and weakness, and identity a strategy that works with their style of learning.

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

By making sure they understand why they're studying this material and how it can be useful in the future.

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

Completing a variety of problems that use the same concept but are different in phrasing or initial appearance. This proves to both of us that they've grasped the material well enough to apply it.