What is your teaching philosophy?

Every student learns differently, so I like to tailor/adapt my teaching method to each student, and will find the best approach for each student: whether (s)he is a visual or auditory learner or learns through repetition or examples, I will find what works to make concepts stick. I like to make learning fun and rewarding to keep the student engaged. I also track progress so we can measure the student's progress over time to make sure (s)he is learning the material and retaining it.

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

I like to talk with the student and get to know him/her, and vice versa. This will help me establish trust and learn about his/her learning style so I can personalize my teaching approach.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

By teaching the student how to solve the problem step by step, and to look for clues in the question and to apply previous knowledge. I want to teach the student how to use available resources and apply past learnings versus just memorizing the answer.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Positive reinforcement; setting attainable goals and celebrating them when met.