A driving instructor interacts with many types of students. It is important to remember that no two students are exactly the same. Each student will have their strengths and weaknesses. For example, you may find a student who plays sports is better with hand eye coordination while a student who plays chess is better with theory.

The novice driver usually has one to two lessons per week with an in-car driving instructor. The student would take what they learned in that lesson and spend time in the car with a family member to practice those concepts.

Some students may not have the opportunity for practice due to circumstances. If a student is having difficulty with the concepts, it may be beneficial to have the student participate in more frequent lessons with a shorter time span. For example, instead of one two-hour session, divide the time into four 30-minute sessions.  This will provide the student with an opportunity to be at ease instead of becoming anxious behind the wheel.

If a student has no or limited driving experience, it is best to provide them the time and space to get used to a vehicle. The student may need daily lessons to help them become more comfortable behind the wheel vs. one lesson per week.

Develop your students by using their success to further develop their confidence. When they have mastered a skill, use their new capability to build upon. For instance, when they learn how to make great right turns, spend time building upon that skill, leveraging the components of a great right turn (mirror scanning, space management, speed management), add more complexity or introduce a new concept to their learning. It will help the student feel good and increase their confidence.

When providing your student with instructions on an upcoming turn or manoeuvre, provide plenty of notice so they have time to process the information. Provide step-by-step instruction as necessary.

All students are teachable. All students can learn concepts with time and patience. Success is impacted by how the instructor provides time and learning space for the student to be successful. In some cases, a student may be better with a different sized vehicle (hatchback or mid-size sedan). It is about comfort behind the wheel.

Driving instructors are teaching students the rules of the road, vehicle operations, driving awareness and much more. Remember this is a lifelong skill and time and patience sets up your student for success now and forever.