What is your teaching philosophy?

A strong basic foundation in the subject is needed to further progress learning and understanding of the bigger picture.

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

Get to know the student and have the student solve basic prepared questions while speaking his/her thought process out loud. From there, we can observe which parts the student lacks in understanding and target that section in order to fully grasp the subject.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

Teach the student how to learn. Learning something new or doing something you don't want to do can be very stressful and the student may naturally want to stop. Studying at intervals and adding breaks in-between (Pomodoro Technique) prevent stress levels from overloading and even helps improve memory. This, along with memory techniques, actively creating good study habits, and adopting a healthy lifestyle, can help the student focus better and be more eager to improve.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Create a daily routine of good study habits. Help the student realize that the key to their success is perseverance, taking responsibility for their own learning, and changing their perspective/thoughts. It isn't about how much information a student can cram in a day. That leads to inefficient learning. It's about revisiting and practicing what you learn through spaced repetition. This teaches your brain to retain information.