What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that an understanding of fundamental concepts in a subject is the key to retention of material and problem solving. If you have the basics down, you can solve problems with the information you have about a given subject! That's why in my tutoring; I help students learn the basics behind a subject area backwards and forwards so that they can develop strategies to approaching and solving problems themselves.

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

I love to get to know my students in the first session. Making the student feel comfortable around me is essential to successful tutoring, and I enjoy connecting with students on a personal level. This also helps me understand how they like to approach problems, how they think about material, and what their goals are for sessions. In addition, I generally ask the student to bring notes or a textbook to the session; partly for their reference, and partly so that I can see what topics they have covered and what gaps I may need to help fill in.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

When tutoring, I stress understanding of fundamental concepts, formulas, or definitions in a subject. If a student is lacking understanding of the basics, I help them fill in any gaps before continuing with more difficult subject matter. Building upon a strong base is the best way to build a deep and multifaceted understanding of something, and this deeper understanding helps students learn how to approach problems on their own, thinking critically about techniques and the fundamental framework of the subject itself.