My teaching philosophy is that no two students learn the same way. All students are capable of learning and it is the job of the educator to figure out which way their students learn best.

In a typical first session with a student I will want to learn more about the student and their interests so that I can tailor each session to the student’s needs and interests. A first session will also contain a series of questions or activities that will allow me to gauge where the student currently is in the learning process so that future sessions will meet the academic needs of the student.

I help students become independent learners by giving them many opportunities to try things on their own. As an educator, it is my job to guide and encourage students through the learning process, with the ultimate goal of students mastering the skill or content and feeling confident to do the work on their own.

I help students stay motivated by providing encouragement and letting students know what they did right. Even if the ultimate answer is incorrect, there is always a positive side, such as a great thesis statement or setting a problem up correctly. Students are more likely to stay motivated when they feel that they are getting some information correct and can see that they are making progress with the skill they are working on.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, I will help them break down the skill or information into smaller pieces to see where the misunderstanding is. Once the misunderstanding has been identified and corrected, we will build up to the goal until it has been reached.