What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe the most important thing about teaching people is connecting with them on a personal level. Each student has different interests, life experiences, and knowledge available to them. Working as a teacher is about bringing the information they need to know into the context of what they already know. It's about building knowledge and full comprehension of a subject. It's about turning abstract or difficult information into tools that the student can use to achieve their dreams. That's what teaching is to me.

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

Typically, in the first session I try to accomplish two things. I want to make myself known and available to the student. I want to connect with the people that I teach. There's much more to be gained in tutoring that just information. There's robust comprehension- understanding- recognition of overarching concepts and minute detail- synthesis with other material- these things can only be gained from forming a relationship with the student, from which knowledge can be shared and reflected upon. Typically, the second thing that I like to do is get gauge on the student's needs, learning style, personality, and pre-existing knowledge. Ensuring that these two things are accomplished is the cornerstone of good tutoring, and opens the door to true learning and even further inquiry.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

If a student is having problems staying motivated, the most important thing to do is remind them of their dreams, and connect their success to their life and interests. If they don't feel that the material that they're learning is worth the effort, they aren't going to put forward the effort. If the student can see himself growing and cares about the outcome of their learning endeavors, they are going to be a lot more dedicated to their studies than they would be otherwise.

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

If a student has a difficulty learning a skill or concept, the most important thing to do is break the concept down into its most basic principles and explain it from the ground up. If a student can understand the building blocks of a concept fully, then it is just a matter of progressive demonstration to build an understanding of more complex implications and uses of the material in the student's mind.

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

In helping students who are struggling with reading comprehension, frequently asking questions about the text, handling the material in short bursts, creating outlines, asking the student to make summaries or respond to verbal inquiries about the text, and asking pointed questions are good strategies to use. In addition, teaching students the structure of arguments and of writing is an important key in helping them identify and analyze the material that they are working on.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Becoming an independent learner is about identifying your goals and working hard to pursue them. Learning will only take place outside of the classroom if the learner feels a real internal desire to learn. So helping a student to become an independent learner is more than just telling them some information or giving them a structure. It's about bringing them into a deep connection with themselves and their world, so that they can choose a path in life and pursue it with their highest effort.