it's difficult to cater to every child considering the fact that we're all different and probably learn things at very different rates if we are capable of learning them at all. I feel that it always came down to actually being interested or passionate about something.
Oh, definitely. Looking back, the subjects where I always did well in school were those that I liked the best (literature, biology, philosophy, psychology, genetics, etc.), and I'm sure many people had a similar experience, so passion is a key element for succeeding at something.
Fun fact: even though I was always a nerdy nerd and a Straight‑A student, once I reached high school I started failing Maths and Physics right and left. Like you said, it was like the concepts would just not go in. I had to get private lessons in order to barely pass my tests so my final grades look quite funny, a collection of C's and D's in Maths and Physics with A's in everything else...
Thanks for commenting and sharing your experience, @branlee87!