Nykolai

What is your teaching philosophy?

Rather than spend hours banging out problems, I prefer to explore the how and why of mathematical concepts, and I believe that a true understanding leads to solutions faster than repetition.

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

I would enjoy a few minutes of getting to know the person and their interests, and follow up with a discussion of why they are looking for tutoring and what goals they hope will be accomplished by working with me.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I believe everyone has to discover for themselves how to learn independently, and I can only explain the process I've used and found success in when I was in school. It took me a while to figure out what methods work best, but by explaining my findings and even explaining how I came to those findings, I can surely make the journey smoother.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I like to set realistic, tangible goals so that, when I accomplish one, I can see that I'm making progress. Afterwards, I'll reward myself, but the feeling of success is addicting and the desire to feel successful again brings me back. I would help a student outline a similar methodology, or discover one that works just as well for them.

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

Try a different approach. If that approach fails, maybe I'll start over from the beginning, but I'll never give up (never surrender).