What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that the best way to learn materials is to teach them to another person. So, I like to have my students explain concepts and ideas to me as though they were the teacher. I also believe that understanding the underlying pattern or story of the subject I'm teaching is as important as understanding the subject itself.

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

I like to check in and see where they are in terms of comprehension. We might go over past homework assignments, past quizzes, or just have a conversation on what they hope to gain from our sessions.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I think inspiring passion for a subject is key to independent learning. If I have done my job well, the student will gravitate to more independent learning on their own.