I believe that everyone can learn. The trick is to find out the best ways for each person. They can include a combination of visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and oral. I also believe that whatever you are learning has to matter to you, so finding those connections are important.

I would love to find out the student's interests to help tailor my approach. I would also love to find out what the student has taught him/herself and how which will help me understand the student's learning style.

Knowing your learning style and having some interests is the first step. Thinking about scheduling and time management, including calendars and alarms, will help keep anyone on track.

Within each session, having a schedule that we go through will help keep the session moving and maintain appropriate expectations. Talking about future goals will keep the student motivated by always looking ahead at what's next.

Usually, I ask them to summarize, verbally, each chapter afterwards. I also ask them to share what they can relate to about the book. Letting students choose their own book topics also often makes a difference in comprehension.

Learning the student's interests and figuring out their learning style, along with building rapport and getting to know each other, usually makes the best foundation.

The way to get excited about any subject is to connect to it. I would try to find a way that the subject can be meaningful to the student. Sometimes, the meaningful part is not the topic itself but where it can lead you.

One of the best ways to check for understanding is to talk about it. Questions about real-life problem solving that utilize the material are exciting to discover and create and give the student a reason for application of the material while giving the teacher an idea of how deep the student understands it.

I believe that we should all be confident about learning anything. People often say things like, "I'm not a math person." I don't believe that is true. If you want to learn something, you can! It's really that simple. By frequently reminding a student of where they started, what their goals are, and where they are on that trajectory, a student will build his/her own confidence.

The first step is to ask a student where they think they struggle. The next is to assess using metric-based tools, such as tests and writing samples.

My background is in special education. There are many tools, such as color-coding your notes, keeping a schedule to remind yourself of your tasks, or using a small sand timer to keep you moving, that can help anyone. I would look at where the student is struggling and help them develop tools to help themselves.

Movement is probably the biggest-as in taking stretch breaks, taking a walk around the room, or moving your body. Other materials include schedules, timers, and colored pens.