I believe that all students are capable of achieving success, especially if they are in a warm, encouraging, and rigorous environment.

In a first session with a student, I would take some time to get to know said student and their abilities. I might give them a diagnostic assessment and have a conversation about what they perceive as their strengths and areas for growth, as well as likes and dislikes. After I understand better where this student is in terms of academics, I would help them set goals for our sessions moving forward.

I can help a student become an independent learner by scaffolding material to get them to their zone of proximal development. When they are working at material they are challenged by yet capable of doing, many students are able to work and learn independently.

I would help a student stay motivated by making sure we are working at a good pace. If the work is too difficult, a student can easily become frustrated. However, if work is too easy, a student can become bored and lose focus. By challenging a student a bit more each time and providing them with encouragement that yes, they can handle the work, I would hope to see a student remain motivated.

First, I would need to find out exactly what the student does not understand. I could do this by asking a series of leading questions to pinpoint the concept or skill that the student is struggling with. Then, I would probably break down the concept or skill further by finding supplementary material, slowing down the pace, and making sure to practice this concept or skill multiple times before moving on.

When students are struggling with reading comprehension, I generally try to find a different text that is more in their Lexile range. In addition, I may start at the bottom of Bloom's Taxonomy, with questions in which the student would need to solely identify facts and figures. Then, as the student became more capable of this skill, I would move up, eventually asking them to understand, analyze, and evaluate. Reading is all about meeting a student exactly where they are. Sometimes, you need to take a huge step back in order to move forward. I would also encourage reading absolutely ANYTHING, as long as the student finds the subject matter interesting! Magazines, comic books, novels.... it doesn't matter! As long as that student is being exposed to different vocabulary.