I believe that every student, with enough practice, has the potential to be a great writer. My philosophy is to start slow, in small chunks, and to slowly build skills at a pace that is challenging but does not overwhelm the student. How can you help a student become an independent learner? One of the many ways a student can become a more independent learner is by building the confidence they need to step forward on their own. Motivational psychology says that competence, autonomy, and a connection to others are the three pieces needed for individuals to be motivated to be independent learners. If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?