The better you can ask good questions and show a student how it will serve their interests to own their learning, the better you will teach.

Learn their personality type (Myers-Briggs), if they're generally-speaking more emotional versus rational, which modality they relate to the best in learning (auditory vs. kinesthetic vs. visual vs. abstract), their background, sense of humor, hobbies, interests, goals/ambitions, and personality/character. Getting to know the student on a holistic level will set the stage for forging a successful professional relationship.

If they've already got the gift of independent learning down pat, then good for them. If I notice they tend to lean on others (myself included) more than is conducive to their long-term ability to succeed in school, then I will start by asking the best questions I can to learn why that might be. Over time, starting with some slight nudges to encourage that they learn more independently (alone study time, for example), I will guide them in becoming more independent if possible.

Use the info I have about them (learning style, personality type, etc.) to see if I can better relate the skill or concept to THEM.

This is like eating vegetables at dinnertime when you're a kid: no, it's not the ice cream and it's not glamorous (at least not upfront, not at first). But the solution here is to remove ALL distractions, and clear out a proper working space where you're alone. Then, in what should be a blocked-out chunk of time on your calendar, we have to get you practicing your reading--and NOTHING else but reading in that specific time. Reading is a true discipline, remember. While reading, I will expect the student to be underlining, highlighting, and taking notes in the margins. I won't feed the student; I will instead take them to the shore and expect them to fish as best as they know how. I want them practicing to read and answer questions based on the text all on their own, multiple times over. If after several tries solo they STILL aren't satisfied, then I will guide them from there. But with reading comprehension, the main struggle is in fact a focus, time/energy management, and discipline struggle--NOT an intellectual shortcoming.

Chunking is HUGE. Take a big scary piece of work and break it down into bite-sized steps. Prioritizing is also massive: deciding we're not going to try being perfect but instead apply the 80/20 rule ruthlessly until we achieve the desired outcomes. And finally, being informal and humorous as much as we can, because we want to make learning fun and enjoyable, a meaningful part of life rather than some crap we have to put up with.

Relate it to them and their interests and goals. Simple.

The ultimate proof that a student has learned is that they do not merely rote-memorize and vomit back the material at me. Rather, the ultimate proof is when a student can TEACH the same material, and in their own words and in their own way.

Quick, easy wins, and then constantly drill them on the subject matter until it comes as easy as walking. This is based on proven performance psychology.

They will show up along the way while we are in session, if only I as the tutor will fully pay attention.

First is by showing my empathy and compassion for whatever ways in which the student may not be as strong or smart. This is a question not of IQ but EQ, so particularly in times of sensitivity (i.e., a student who is quite slow with math, and feels painful insecurity about it), the best thing I believe I can do is relate some experience I've had where I totally felt the pain of being a slow learner, but that I nonetheless found a way to work around that and win (and they can too).

Google + Wikipedia! And I'm not ashamed to admit it. If these simple tools have helped me significantly through an elite university's courses, they can serve every purpose for students here. Besides that, it's a smart idea to keep whatever info I have about that student (as a person and a learner) at the ready. Also, my iPhone may turn up something handy for the session (some app or tool), and my watch will be invaluable for timing and establishing time barriers.