I am a proponent of teaching to the individual child and their individual needs. I also enjoy using hands-on learning techniques and teaching using the knowledge of a child's interests.

In a first session, I would want to evaluate what the student already knows and also get an idea of their interests so that I can tailor instruction to meet those needs.

I believe you can help students become independent learners when you can show them that learning can be fun and encourage them when they are doing things correctly. Also, once you realize a student has mastered a particular concept, praise them for their excellent work!

I would encourage the student when I see they are doing things correctly. I would also do what I could to teach to individual interests. Encourage the student that they will get it with practice and help them through that practice.

I would adjust how I was trying to teach the concept. Sometimes with teaching when you realize that what you are doing isn't working, you have to modify the lesson to a level the student will understand.

As a teacher, I would try to find out what reading level they are at to make sure we are reading appropriate books for that student. I would also try to teach comprehension techniques such as note taking, highlighting, questioning, etc. A lot of it would depend on the age of the student and what they can do at that level cognitively. My teaching approach would also depend on what the individual student was struggling with on a case by case basis.

When you first start working with a student, it is important to establish a positive and professional relationship. Let the student know you care about them and their learning, and also let them know you are human and not just a teaching robot. One way I have done this in person is by telling students about my family and sharing personal pictures as well as asking students about themselves and their own interests and families. It is also important to find out the goals of the individual student and help to set those goals as well as looking at what the student already knows.

I would try to find out what is causing the student to struggle. If it is a lack of interest such as finding history boring, then I will do what I can to make it interesting and exciting. Also, doing what I can to teach to the individual student's interests. I know when I taught fourth grade many of the students struggled with history and science because they were not interested in what was being taught, so as a teacher I did what I could to make teaching and learning the concept fun and interesting.

I would do a combination of formal and informal assessments. Assessments might include informally observing what the student is doing and asking questions or a more formal assessment such as an exit ticket (having the student answer a couple of questions on paper to do with what was taught or having the student write in their own words what was taught). I would also do quizzes to see what the student is learning.

You have to show the student that they are capable of mastering the subject by encouraging them each time they master something. Even the smallest success can encourage a student and make them feel more confident in what they are doing.

You evaluate needs informally with observations and formally with more formal assessments. You can also ask older students questions to get more details about how they are struggling and use those notes to decide on student needs.

As a tutor and teacher, you are constantly assessing where the student is at within a particular subject and adjusting your lessons to meet the needs of that student. Just like I do in my classroom to tailor instruction, I would do the same with tutoring clients.

I use various manipulatives, books, online resources, paper and pencil, and student provided materials (homework and classwork that needs to be corrected). I am willing to do what I can to make sure I have the correct materials to work with a particular student.