I think the key to understanding is context. I remember learning dense science material in one class that only made sense after I took the next class. Once I was able to see the big picture, the smaller details started to fall into place. I try to always draw back to the big picture so that a student always understands what they are learning and how it relates to other material.

The first thing I would do would be to ask what they need help with. Once I know what we are working on, I can try to assess the student's knowledge base, and that way I'd know where to start the lessons to get the most out of our time in this and in future sessions.

I try to engage students in their own learning in two ways. The first is to help them make connections between what they're learning and what it means in real life. To me, that was always the most interesting part of school. Second, I try to structure my lessons so that I am a safety net. By that I mean that I hope students will work through the problems on their own, while also being confident that I will be there to guide them to the correct answer and catch any mistakes. I try to create a really low-pressure environment where students aren't afraid to be wrong.