I'm a one-stripe white belt who's been training for a little over a year. I seem to be having a bit of an explosion in growth and I want to take advantage of that. I'm hitting sweeps that I used to never be able to hit, it takes the blues/purples much longer to submit me than they used to, I'm beginning to become obsessed with how to be the best student.
Now, I know I've only rolled with one of you here on the forum (and he's the dude giving me the private) so helping me with specific questions probably isn't going to work. Rather, I would like some suggestions on how to make the most out of my hour with my instructor. What was your favorite private session like? What, as an instructor, would you like your student to prepare for a private so things go smoothly?
Thanks, folks!
Assuming this isn't a troll account which it likely is...
- How to frame, bridge, and shrimp properly.
That's it.
Hey, we all need to first-post somewhere. :-) Not a troll account. Promise.
not a troll account. I can vouch for OP.
If I understand the OP correctly, and this is a private with your instructor, I would recommend just showing up and asking what they think you most need to work on. I have found during privates that the less I talk the better, the instructor knows what I need most to work on from watching me train and rolling with me. I am just a blue belt, and I figure that I probably don't know enough to know what needs the most help. The few privates I have had focused on things I would have never thought to ask, typically more of a general concept than a specific move- for instance after rolling for a very short while the instructor said "you feel too light when on top" and we spent the session working on top pressure. It made a big difference in my ability to maintain top position and advance or work for submissions, and I would have never thought to ask for assistance with that 
My privates with my instructor were amazing and worth every penny. I knew what I wanted to work on, positionally, and my instructor developed a curriculum for that. It provided the framework for current game and more importantly, the transitions to and from. I know that others have done privates differently, but having a defined plan really made it worthwhile to me.
Ask what he feels you need to improve on the most and how to make those improvements. Also ask what he feels you are doing well with, and what may be the reason you are performing well in that area. 
You might want to start using a log to measure your progress. It might help tease out some things you want to work on. If it's your instructor they should know what will help you the most. It's always an appropriate thing to have them roll with you for 5-10mins (if they don't normally). That way they can identify a few things right away.
Ask him why you are only a 1 stripe white belt after one year.
If the answer is you dont train enough or consistently enough, then to be the best student you can be, you need to train 5+ days a week.
Whenever I start privates with a new student - I always write the program according to what I think is most important, and teach concepts as opposed to techniques for the first few. I think that as a white belt you really don't know what you need to learn, and should trust your instructor to point you in the right direction.
How to make a grip.
don't waste time talking,1st thing roll,he should find something to teach you in the 1st minute