What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?

By breaking down any problem into its individual components, it is much more easy to understand and comprehend. Finding patterns in the way you approach and solve problems is a key to finding success in the concept.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?

Almost any subject can be interesting once you break it down and apply it to your own interests. Approach a concept you are struggling with as if you are trying to become an expert in it. From there, the steps to becoming engaged become a personal challenge instead of an academic burden.

What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?

Often times, the best way to assess comprehension is for the student to become the teacher. I like to ask my students to relay the information back to me in their own words. From there, it is easy to differentiate between the student's strengths and weaknesses in concepts.

How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?

A great way to build confidence is giving the student teaching assignments. I often have my students teach the information back to me, as well as to their parents at home. This not only creates repetition, but it also builds confidence in the student.