I always like to begin by identifying the areas with the most potential for improvement, as well as what the student's specific goals are. From there, I work with the student to develop a tailored plan, which includes regular checkpoints along the way to see if anything about our approach needs to be modified.

In a first session with a student, I would make sure to share each other's backgrounds and get to know each other a little bit better. I would ask the student key questions that would help me use the most effective methods possible for the student, such as preferred methods of learning/working styles and goals for our time together.

You can help a student become an independent learner by not giving him/her all of the answers. With effective teaching methods, you can guide the student to the answer but it is important to give the student time to brainstorm and think through the problem by him/herself.

I would help a student stay motivated by having regular checkpoints with the student where we do not necessarily discuss content, but rather, have an open dialogue about how things are going and what could be changed/improved. I would also make sure to focus on the student's triumphs and progress, even when things aren't necessarily going perfectly.

I would try a different method of explaining the concept. I would examine why specifically the student was having difficulty - is it a total lack of understanding, or just one aspect of the concept that is tripping him/her up? By identifying the specific problem, I could look for more efficient ways of approaching the concept.

Reading comprehension can be a tricky subject. I break down each sentence and clause into easier, more manageable chunks. I also have students paraphrase passages, to put the words into more familiar terms.

After a successful session, I would give the student homework or problems to complete over the course of that week that were similar to what we went over. Based on the results of the homework and going over it together, I would be able to confirm that the student had a solid understanding of the material.

I build a student's confidence in a subject by focusing on the little wins. 100% accuracy will not be achieved right away, so it is important to focus on the progress that is made along the way.

Materials used during a tutoring session widely vary depending on the type of subject being studied. They can include textbooks, homework problems, class lectures, flashcards, and practice tests, to name a few.

I would try to make the subject fun! Often we can take things so seriously, and I think it is important to take a step back from time to time and smile. I would focus on the student's little wins in that subject and emphasize the importance of patience, hard work, and determination.

It is helpful to look at a student's track record in the subject at hand, through grades, test scores, etc. I then like to have a frank conversation with the student, to hear straight from him/her what the areas are that are causing the most trouble and why.

Regular check-ins are key. The benefit of tutoring is one-on-one attention and focus, so I like to make sure the methods and working style being used are seen as effective by both the student and myself. If not, we try new methods until we find one that works for us.

I like to try a variety of teaching methods with a new student, to see which are most effective and "stick." I also like to create a personal relationship with the student and get to know more about his/her background. This helps me hone in on the student's motivations and learning style.