I believe that by making the lessons fun and engaging, as well as educational, I can get the best out of my students. When a student is relaxed and feels comfortable, I believe that is when he or she can do their best work.

Get to know his or her interests as well as favorite class. Do they play sports; involved in the arts? Favorite films or TV shows, or any hobbies?

By having them do a talk back to me after we do a problem, and by then having the student do a similar type problem and explain it to me on their own.

By making sure they know why we are doing a particular problem or why it is necessary to learn a certain topic, even if they feel there may be no use for it, as it works a certain part of the brain. I try to keep things in the big picture of how learning really does help one in life, even if a certain test or subject may not seem like it will at the moment.

I try a few different ways to communicate the concept, whether through a visual or video aide, or just really trying to explain or make analogies catered to their interests and hobbies.

I will have them read to me, and then after a sentence or so, I will have them tell me in their own words what they think the sentence means. If they do not know, I will go word by word and step by step translating the passage into doable and more layman type terms and vocabulary.

Just by getting to know them and getting them comfortable, I feel they then open up and will feel less self-conscious to admit they may not know or understand a concept. By getting to know about their interests or hobbies, it really gets me to know how their mind works as well as lets my students know I am interested in their lives and in them as individuals.

I would say that from this point on, it is only going to get easier, and that any topic is learnable, and it's just all about finding a way in; and once there is a crack in the surface, it gets easier and easier and then becomes fun. I try to make it into a game or mystery we will solve together.

I always have them explain back to me the material we just covered as if I am now the student. And to double check, I will make up a similar type problem on the spot and have them do it step by step and explain their thinking to me the entire way through.

By repetition, and by starting with smaller and basic problems and slowly building up.

I will first ask the student what his or her favorite subject is, and that usually gives me a clue as to where there may be a need to come in and help. It always helps to have previous tests/quizzes or report cards.

Each student has his or her own specific needs, and I immediately can see what type of learning or processing pattern they have and then go from there. For some students, there needs to be lots of repetition for them to retain information, but I do believe by putting pen or pencil to paper, it gets the brain to hold on to information and process it better.

I always bring a calculator and pencils as well as scratch paper. Additionally, I like to bring a laptop or iPad, as I feel that video and visual aids are very helpful. I also like to use dry erase boards from time to time as well.