Understanding where information fits in the "big picture" is the key to understanding the material and mastering critical thinking skills.

I would ask the student to provide me with the class syllabus and notes. I would also present the student with a few sample questions to see how they work through the material to better understand their thinking style. Then, I would personalize the session for each student's study style.

At first, I will start with observing how the student responds, studies, and thinks. Once I have an idea of what the student's study styles and habits are, I will gradually comment on how doing something slightly different may result in a better understanding in the material. I feel that it is important to make gradual changes where the student has time to practice them and adapt to them.

By finding more interesting ways to study and helping the student realize that the improvement is due to his/her hard work, I feel that a student would enjoy the feeling of accomplishment and continue to pursue it.

I would find alternative ways to help the student. If a student doesn't have a concept down, I will not move on and assume he/she will understand it. We will take a step back and see where the idea fits into a bigger picture. By using association methods and mnemonics, the student may be more prepared to move forward.

I feel that continuously stopping to ask the student to repeat what we just covered helps the student put the concepts into their own words. This way, the student personalizes the information into their own way of learning.

Learning strategies make a big difference in how much a student decides to commit to a topic. By making preparation fun and helpful, a student will enjoy the topic they once dreaded.

Every few concepts, I like to provide a student with a pop quiz to make sure that they understood the material. Each new quiz contains information from the new section as well as the old one, putting the pieces together as we work our way through the material. At the end of the session, the student will be given a test that covers important points and everything that the syllabus/study guide asked for.

I would never tell a student that what they're doing is wrong or that it doesn't work. I would make sure that they know their efforts are not useless, but help them see that there may be a better or easier way to reach a conclusion/answer.

Listen! It is important to listen to the student. I am not only a tutor but a mentor/counselor as well. It is important to understand what the student's concerns are. If a student has great study skills but has test anxiety, I would have to take a different approach with him/her than with someone who needs help memorizing.

The materials and approach that I use for each student differs based on the student's needs. If a student is more of a visual learner, I will use large poster boards and PowerPoints to explain the material. If the student is more auditory, I will use the material in a conversational setting so that the student remembers the material better.

As more sessions pass, I will learn more about what works for a student and what doesn't. Based off of his/her performance in class or practice tests, I will observe the types of questions he/she is missing and alter the sessions accordingly.

I feel that the most important approach to mastering reading comprehension is understanding the author's tone and point of view. Also, translating the sentence or paragraph into terms the student would understand is critical. Focusing on less detail and more on the big picture is my main goal.