My philosophy is that I haven't truly taught students until they can construct their own understanding of the material. To do this, I articulate my explanations in different ways until my students discover something that logically fits their own thought process. Once the new concept clicks, I can then get it to stick through practice problems.

In first sessions with students, I always try to assess skill levels by asking with basic questions and, if appropriate, leading them into advanced questions until I find an opportunity to extend their knowledge. In this way, I can keep students engaged and curious to learn.

My role as a tutor is to ensure students have a framework of skills to attempt new and challenging problems. With leading questions and hints, I can get students to fill in the blanks and construct their own thought process. I believe this helps build confidence in their ability to learn and solve problems.

If a student is unmotivated to learn, I would tap into previously mastered knowledge to get them thinking and confidently answering questions. I would praise and reassure to the student's success and then take the skills to the next step.