The reasons that motivate a person vary from individual. So the first step is to talk with a student enough so that I can understand what does or may motivate them. For some, reaching specific goals can be quite motivating. For others, it may be more about feeling that they have mastered the material. For others, it may be rewards. Whatever the motivation, I think it's important to encourage a student's progress. Nothing can be as demoralizing as feeling like you are not moving forward. At key moments, it can also be helpful to remind students of what they are working towards.

It can help to look at the subject from a different perspective and to show the student that the subject is applicable to his/her interests. (Like connecting math to a sport the student plays...) Finding a new format to work on the material can also be helpful. A more interactive format can be especially effective. (Examples: playing a game instead of doing standard math problems, doing an experiment together to illustrate scientific principles...)

No matter how much a student is struggling with a subject, the student still always has strengths. Focusing on these strengths is essential to helping a student build confidence. Many students have been taught to believe that certain subjects simply aren't for them, making them feel they will never succeed or do well in those areas. This entire viewpoint is problematic and does not build confidence or lead to success. It's okay for a subject not to feel natural or make sense immediately. By sticking with a subject and bringing one's own special skills and strengths, a student can build confidence and succeed in any subject.

The process of evaluating needs changes depending on the subject. For many subjects, however, diagnostic tests are quite helpful at determining where a student's strengths and weaknesses are. It's also helpful to review the student's past work in the field. Personally, I always like to sit down with students and hear them describe their needs in their own words.

This varies so much depending on both the subject we are working on and the individual student. I do find that regardless of the subject, it is always helpful to have the basic materials of paper and pencil. It's amazing how helpful these can be, even when the work is being done on a computer. They allow for practice, explanations, demonstrations, experimentation and much more. Besides that, I like to tailor the materials I'm using to the needs of each student.

Very simplistically, I will work on whatever it is the student needs help with. The first step is always to figure out what this is by evaluating a student's needs, giving us an idea of where to start. Additionally, when evaluating a student's needs, it's crucial to get a sense of his/her learning style so that I can figure out the best approach to working with them. The more I work with a student, the more I can adapt to his/her specific needs.