How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Two important parts of being an independent learner are having the confidence that you can do it and having the right tools. I would make sure the student feels comfortable asking any questions they might have (the basic questions are sometimes the most important!). Hopefully they will see that any obstacle they run into has a solution. Another benefit of asking questions is that you get better at asking the right questions and figuring out exactly what you need to understand something better. In short, I would help the student build a solid understanding of the fundamental concepts and the ability to figure out what makes a question challenging so that they can approach new and unfamiliar material with confidence.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

It's important for a student to know that just because something is challenging does not mean it is impossible. By reinforcing the progress they have already made and showing them that they are completely capable of tackling the next obstacle, I can help a student to stay motivated to reach their goals.

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

I would try approaching the concept from different angles until something clicks. There are so many ways to learn a concept and many different ways to explain it, so if one way does not help, I would try a new approach. I also find that analogies are very helpful. By relating a new concept to something the student already understands they can gain a more intuitive understanding of the concept before diving into the details and nuances.

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

Sometimes students are disengaged because they find the subject irrelevant or difficult. I used to hate trigonometry, but my dad (a college math professor) walked me through sine and cosine and everything until I really understood it. Now, it's something I'm totally comfortable with and I can apply it to physics or chemistry problems confidently. So first, I would help them establish some sort of connection with the subject and secondly, I would be patient with them and make sure to address all their questions. It's also so satisfying to finally understand something that originally was very difficult, so I would help them to see the challenge as fun and worth pushing through.

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

I would ask them questions and have them teach the material back to me. This is a technique I use to study in college because it's a great way to identify any gaps in your understanding.