In a typical first session with a student, I would first learn what their tutoring goals are and how they plan to measure those goals. From there, I would like to learn a little bit more about the student: their interests, hobbies, and long-term goals. Then, I would begin tutoring by incorporating real-life examples.

First, I break reading down into the fundamentals instead of tackling multiple things at once. Second, I help students find reading material that interests them, whether it be books about fire trucks, American girl dolls, or Captain Underpants.

Asking students to explain concepts back to me in their own words and asking them to provide real world examples are two tools I would use to ensure that a student understands the material.

I typically use the student's own textbook, class notes, and other materials in combination with flashcards and charts.