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

In my first session I like to get to know the student as a person. Along with this, I try to get a feel for where the student is academically, reviewing past assignments in the course to identify when struggles began.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

During my sessions I try to go above specific problems and address the concepts at the core of the material. I teach students a variety of strategies that are useful for identifying core concepts, not only in the current material, but in future subjects as well.