What is your teaching philosophy?

Teachers are the catalyst of the future. The impact they have now will greatly affect how society functions in the future, as it always has. I believe that teaching should be done with a passion fueled by the knowledge that students' lives are directly affected. That said, students should take their role just as seriously, and take advantage of the opportunities that lie before them. A student-teacher relationship is one of symbiosis, so no part of it should be neglected.

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

During an introductory session, I would make sure that my student is completely comfortable with the fundamentals of the concept we happen to be covering. I would make absolutely certain that no initial knowledge is lost by clarifying anything that may still ail the student. I would also make sure that the student is comfortable with my approach. If I find that it is ineffective, I will adapt to a new teaching style in order to accommodate them.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I would encourage a student to learn independently by giving intermittent quizzes over concepts that have not been very recently covered. This would result in long-term study habits that allow for more information retention.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would make it very clear that a student is making measurable progress, and I would praise them for it. I would set realistic goals so that the student has feasible milestones to approach, rather than a single intimidating subject area.

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

If a student encounters any obstacles in their learning, I will focus the entirety of my instruction effort on that concept or similar concepts until I know the information has solidified.

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

Reading comprehension is all about practice. I would encourage students to read heavily on their own time to boost their general critical reading skills. During sessions, I would assign practice tests to increase students' exposure to the material, and explain each concept on the tests in depth.