What is your teaching philosophy?

I describe my teaching philosophy as that of helping the student to see the big picture while keeping him/her focused on the details by continually asking the "why" questions. I firmly believe that each person learns in a slightly different way, so I try to identify that way in which a student learns best and thus align my efforts accordingly.

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

I would introduce myself and then have the student tell me a little about themselves so I can get a sense of their interests, strengths, and preferences.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

I believe that each person learns naturally and thus already is an independent learner. However, sometimes we need a little extra help to understand certain topics. I would help such a student by encouraging him/her to do outside reading and to re-read books and articles on those topics that challenge him/her.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I would help a student stay motivated by keeping his/her focus on the goals and objectives and by reaffirming his/her potential to achieve them.

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

I would break up the skill or concept into its parts, if possible, and then have the student explain each part separately until we can put all the parts together and understand the whole part.