What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe Albert Einstein said it best: "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."

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

I'd ask the student to spend a few moments briefly introducing himself, and then I'd follow up with my own personal introduction. I'd also ask about the student: "What motivated you to seek out tutoring?" and "What would you like to accomplish in our sessions?"

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

First and foremost, I would explain to the student that success is not tied to the grade he receives but to the progress he's made in understanding course content and improving his study skills. Learning is not an activity exclusive to grade school. Learning began before the student entered school, and learning will continue for the rest of his life. My aim is to help students gain an appreciation for learning so that they can be more concerned with learning new things and connecting what they've learned to the knowledge they've already acquired, and less concerned with extrinsic motivating factors.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would use plenty of praise to encourage and show the student that they are headed in the right direction. I would also ask for help if I'm ever unsure as to how to answer a question. My asking for help would show the student that even the tutor sometimes needs help, and that's ok because we are all on a learning journey.

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

In a case like that, it's usually helpful to take things back to the basics. I would take a different approach to the concept after identifying which concepts the student is having difficulty understanding. Reteaching the concept in a way that corresponds to the student's particular learning style is also helpful. For example, I would look for a helpful video to share with a student who learns visually, and for a kinesthetic learner, I would find a learning activity that incorporates movement.