There is no such thing as a dumb student, only students who have not yet found their own learning style. My goal is to help you find that style, and with it, better grades and a happier outlook on education.

I would like to get to know their educational background. Be able to crack a joke or two in order to make them comfortable and have them learn in a non-stressful and easier environment.

By helping them to know how best to learn and study. If the student knows what study habits will help them attain the best possible grades they will stick with it and be happier overall with their education.

By coming up with either a system for them to earn long-term goals with me or with their parents, and also with short term or immediate prizes of sorts depending on the age of the person being tutored. However, I believe that the best possible motivation will be the increase in their grades and scholastic confidence.

Try to break it down into smaller concepts and individually explain each part using something that they already understand. After each section I would begin to put it into the big picture of the problem or concept until they were able to work it out for themselves.

This is one that I understand personally having grown up with dyslexia. One of the most common things that a person in that situation needs is patience and understanding. There is no easy or quick fix, but instead a lot of practice and techniques to learn to better understand and retain what is being read.

First to teach in such a way that they understand what you are saying. Second is to be understanding yourself when they struggle and to ask them to be patient with themselves. Lastly to always congratulate and be excited when they are correct or understand a difficult concept.

My usual approach for this is to find a way that they can think about it in real terms. In other words, to put it into practice in everyday life, and with that the student will be able to be more excited about the application of what they are learning.

My go to is usually some form of quizzing, whether that be verbal, written or in the form of calculations; it doesn't matter as long as they have to recall the material from memory. Next I like to have them teach their parents or me what they learned so it becomes even more reinforced. Lastly I like to have little check ins to see if they have kept up on the materials in order to retain them in long-term memory.

By helping them to get the right answers themselves! Giving a student the answer will never build confidence only dependence, but helping them to achieve it on their own will help them to understand that not only is it possible but very probable that they understand the material.

I think that one of the best ways is to take a two-step approach. First ask them, find out what they think the problem is and what they are struggling with. Second, watch, observe and try to find out what their train of thought is like, and where there may be a few gaps that you can fill in.

Depending on what kind of learner they are I will try to adapt my teaching style to it. If they are an audible learner I will try to verbally explain what is going on; if they are a more physical or visual learner then I will come up with drawings or movable examples for them to better understand the material.

During a tutoring session I will usually use a combination of textbooks, computers, a white board or some other material to draw or calculate on, as well as anecdotal examples.