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

In a first session, I would get to know my student a bit and spend some time reviewing what he or she knows about the subject. By doing this, we can find what is really great and what we can improve.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

It's always okay to ask for help as a student, but it's important to try things on one's own. I often push students to try to think critically before I give an answer so that they can become more independent.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Every student has strengths as well as weaknesses. I love celebrating strengths and successes. We can also take a step back and work through things one step at a time, until a student feels confident and willing to try harder.

What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that anyone is capable of learning anything. Some people struggle with certain subjects more than others, but I love to see students succeed despite considerable obstacles.

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

Often students struggle to learn something because it's not presented in the best way for their brain. Because there are a variety of learning styles, I try to employ a variety of teaching styles so students can understand a concept in the way that works best for them.

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

I spend a lot of time forming an understanding of what the student already knows and discussing the student's goals for our tutoring sessions.