What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that learning should not only prepare the students for tests, but also should help them develop the reasoning skills essential to success in the long term.

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

I would take some time to listen to the student and really figure out what their needs are. I also would emphasize building rapport with them. Of course, I would also begin to cover the learning material.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I find it very effective to ask leading questions and have students come to conclusions through that. I have also found it very important that the student believes that they can learn and be successful. I like to teach my students to break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable ones.