What is your teaching philosophy?

Completing the work will get you by, but training yourself to teach others is where education really begins. Life oftentimes presents situations where we have to explain the unknown.

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

Goal setting and mind framing is important in a first session. It sets expectations for future sessions and gives direction to the overall experience.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

After we learn a concept, I ask a student to describe what it took for them to really understand the material to the point where they can explain to someone else. This realization helps the student understand how he/she learns.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Celebrate the small wins in each session before moving on to the next challenge. Show the student his/her progress based upon the initial goal setting session.

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

Finding a comparison to a real-world situation that the student can relate to often brings a difficult concept "home." Helping the student relate should also reinforce the learning, because it is more likely that the student will think of this comparison outside of studying.