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

For a test prep student, I usually supply them with a diagnostic test as a place to start. This gives an idea of what score the student can expect to get as well as giving me a good understanding of how the student approaches problems, if they are struggling with time management, and which problems they are struggling with in particular. Keeping in mind what their projected score is and what their goal score is, we will make a plan for how much work they should put in and make a plan. For academic students, it's great to dive into their homework. I try to guide students to problem solve on their own, instead of just walking them through how to get an answer. If they are struggling with something in particular, we will stop and discuss it in more detail, possibly with me writing additional practice problems. My goal is generally to get past homework and into anticipating future class discussions.

What is your teaching philosophy?

My goal is to make whatever we are working on approachable and easy to understand. I will always try to find multiple ways to explain or remember a problem where possible, and will do my best to help you understand 'why', so that you can do better on not only the problem in front of you, but also on other problems like it in the future.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I show students how to approach a problem or how to find information themselves, not simply how to come to answer that one problem. It might help them on their homework right then and be faster, but chances are they wouldn't remember what we went over when they got to a test.

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

I will find additional ways to explain the problem, if I can show it visually or by combining smaller easier problems I will. If it is that they are just not remembering a rule I will try to link it to a rule they already know, as well as provide additional problems for drilling.