The teacher must seek to understand the student, and then guide the student to greater enthusiasm and higher levels of achievement one step at a time, building confidence along the way.

"Use what you know to figure out what you don't."  If you know how to count, then you can learn how to add by 1.  If you know how to count backwards, then you can learn how to subtract by 1.  If you know how to add by 1's then you can learn how to add by 2's.  If you can add by 2's then you can add groups of 2's. If you can add groups of 2's, then you can learn to multiply by 2.  We build on what we know. A good foundation is one that is gained through understanding.

We all like to be told: "You are right." and "Well done." This is something we don't outgrow.

In order to learn, we may need to break old habits, or pay closer attention to how we go about thinking through a problem.  Maybe we need to follow a method more carefully, make "quick checks", or to practice maintaining focus on a task, persisting until we reach a certain level of accomplishment. 

In solving problems, sometimes we merely need to learn how to apply what we already know to a new situation.  We do this by recognizing patterns, similarities, and differences. 

Each time we learn something new, we increase our potential to be creative.  

Learning can be most fun when it is the result of discovery. 

The student needs to look for opportunities to use what they've learned to prove to themselves the value of the knowledge that has been gained.  The student needs to know that the effort was worth it.

The teacher learns how to be a better teacher from each and every student. 

Through one-on-one tutoring, a teacher discovers a student's thinking patterns; the teacher can suggest more effective methods when necessary.