Behind every dedicated teacher is a dedicated student. I am a life-long learner. I truly believe this is the only way to be a great teacher in our ever-changing world. No two students will be alike. Each year our classrooms will change. Teaching techniques, ideas, laws, policies, and procedures will forever be changing. It is up to every single teacher to take the time to learn about their students each year. With enthusiasm and excitement we should try to discover the most effective ways to meet our students' needs both as individual learners and as a classroom whole. We should know that this may require creativity, communication, and collaboration with others. Due to the changes within society, children and the world itself, I know I will always need to be a student. I will need to take it upon myself to take the time for professional growth. I also firmly believe that although I am my students' teacher, sometimes the best teachers are the students themselves. Within each student and classroom is a learning experience waiting to happen.

It is imperative to listen to the student. Do they know their learning style? Do they know what works best for them? Do they know their own strengths and weaknesses? Sometimes students need to be heard, as often times individuals know what works best for themselves.

Helping students focus on their strengths rather than trying to fix their weaknesses will allow students to become independent. Students can use their strengths to overcompensate for areas in which they struggle.

Help students make connections to real life experiences. Who wants to learn how to do something if they feel they have no use for it in their everyday lives? Oftentimes students cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel or how learning certain material will be beneficial to their lives.

Go back to the basics. Oftentimes if students are struggling it is because they missed something at the foundation.

Again, go back to the basics, and see if something was lacking or missed from the beginning. Otherwise, help students develop comprehension strategies geared to their learning style. Is a student a visual learner? Highlight important parts of the passage as the student is reading. Is the student an auditory learner? Have them read the passage out loud or listen to a passage on headphones. Is a student a kinesthetic learner? Have them act out a passage as they are reading it.

Assess where the student is currently at. We do not want to start students off with work that may be too difficult for them. This will create stress and frustration from the start.

Create connections. How does the subject relate to the students life or experiences? How does it relate to the world we live in?

Have the student teach me. Can they explain to me how they found the answer? Can they show another method for solving a problem to check the answer?

Frequently point out a child's success in subject areas. Less focus on their struggles, more focus on their achievements.

Frequently make comparisons of their work current, to where they started from. Are they further behind, in the same spot, or ahead of the game? Always ask where they are now and where they came from.

Accommodations and adaptations. I am a huge advocate for students with disabilities. I am a parent of three children with disabilities, one learning disabled, one with an emotional disability, and one with a physical disability. My favorite line from the "Credo for Support" by Norman Kunc is "Do not try to fix me because I am not broken. Support me." What accommodations or adaptations can I make to support the students? Do I need to provide the student with frequent breaks? Visual aids? Maybe I need to simply directions or repeat directions? There are many adaptations that can be done to meet student's needs.

It depends on the students and their needs. Many struggling students greatly benefit from visual aids and hands on learning.