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My teaching philosophy is to approach each subject based on the student's level of understanding. Once they explain what they understand, I am able to step into their shoes and see material from their viewpoint. This allows me to explain material in a peer-to-peer way, instead of teaching "down" to them.

A typical first session with me would include having students explain their current level of understanding of the material. They would then list topics or areas that they are specifically having trouble with. If there are many problem areas, we can rank them in order of importance and then tackle them one by one.

Being an independent learner requires self-discipline. I would have the students complete assignments on their own to bolster this. I would also have them spend some portion of our time together teaching the material back to me, so that they can prove to themselves they understand it. This will further motivate them to learn independently.

I would help a student stay motivated by assigning them tasks at various levels of difficulty--some easy ones to boost confidence, and some hard ones to challenge them. I would also highlight their progress to show them how much they have learned, and encourage them to keep putting forth effort.

If students have difficulty with a concept, the first thing I would do is ask them what parts they do not understand. I would have them explain what they do understand, and then fill in any gaps. If after my explanation they are still having difficulty, I would direct them to alternate resources so they can hear it from a different perspective. Finally, I would ask them questions to test their understanding.

Reading comprehension is a matter of taking the time to slow down. I would encourage students to read slowly, not skipping any words. Underline words that you do not understand and try and infer their definitions from context. Also, summarize each paragraph after you have finished reading it, instead of trying to remember the individual points after you've read the whole passage.

Starting work with a new student involves getting to understand them, their learning style, and what works best for them. It also involves understanding what their strong and weak points are in their grasp of the material. I would have them talk to me at first, and explain what they understand and do not understand. I would also try a variety of teaching strategies, and ask them for feedback so I can see what works for them specifically. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

I would ask them what their interests, hobbies, and future career goals are. I would then relate whatever subject they are struggling in to these areas.

The best way to evaluate understanding is to have the students teach the material back to me. If they can explain it well and answer questions about it, they understand it. For standardized test prep, I would also have them take regular practice tests to monitor their progress and understanding.