I believe in the intelligence of students. The greatest craft of a teacher is to tap into the background of the student and help them explore the problem at hand through their own experience.

There are three important tasks of an introductory session. 1) Create a positive relationship with the student. 2) Identify the goals of the student. 3) Create a specific assignment for the student to complete for the next session that mirrors the work ethic necessary to progress.

A student needs just a few skills in place to become a strong independent learner. 1) Knowledge of the content. 2) Identification of problem areas. 3) Motivation to work. 4) Personal organization that supports the necessary work. This includes both the time management as well as scholastic organization, such as an assignment book or planner.

The craft of a teacher is the ability to tap into the experience of a student. I most commonly talk about difficult subjects through sports, dance, cooking and movement. If a student is having trouble internalizing a skill or concept, I try to teach it from a different perspective, borrowing from their scope of understanding.

All difficulties can be approached from many different avenues. Reading comprehension can be most quickly dealt with through a breakdown of important information, a note taking process and linking the information provided with knowledge the student already possesses.