What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe in drawing from real world scenarios to provide context for the student to make connections on their own. The best way for a student to learn and internalize information is by arriving to necessary conclusions on their own. My role as a tutor is not to bog down the student with my own personal learning methods, but rather to facilitate an environment where the student can comfortably understand the material and make independent and educated assertions.

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

I would first break the ice with a student and allow them to feel comfortable asking me any type of question. We would talk about each other's academic background, personal hobbies, and hopefully find some shared interests. By developing this colloquial dynamic, learning comes a lot easier for the student. They have no fear of judgment for unconventional questions and can eliminate any uncertainty they might have with the subject material.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Pulling from real-world scenarios enables a student to examine their own personal experiences and apply it to the problem in front of them. Using the student's own opinions and understanding of the world, you can easily reinforce information from the past and enable the student to arrive to the correct answer on their own.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Checking in consistently is very important. Outside of tutoring sessions, students have their actual tests/quizzes that determine the trajectory of their grade through the semester. By checking in outside of scheduled sessions, there is a stronger bond developed between the student and tutor. This adds an additional layer of accountability for the student and motivates them to work harder and get more out of the in-session learning.