What is your teaching philosophy?

Learning takes effort, but it can be fun. If there's something you just can't seem to master, then there's no point in beating your head against a wall... Find a new direction to approach the material.

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

Ask not only about the material they are struggling with, but also about the subjects they most enjoy...and why. What goals have they set for themselves? How much time/effort are they prepared to devote to meet those goals?

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Promote critical thinking and a knack for asking good questions, as well as finding connections between different ideas.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

First things first: the student must bring some genuine motivation of their own to the tutoring process. To help a student *stay* motivated, I will provide regular evidence of progress so the student will recognize their efforts are rewarded and that greater self-esteem comes with greater mastery of a subject.

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

Approach the skill or concept from a different angle. Draw analogies or find connections to concepts that the student does understand well. The key is to avoid beating one's head against a wall by repeating the same failed approach again and again.