While there are some very powerful imitations that you can download for free, you should have at least one copy of Word or Excel. These programs are a part of Microsoft's Office suite. In order to allow students and teachers to use these applications in classrooms, Microsoft sometimes offers Office programs at reduced prices. Geek.com, a site that chronicles events in the digital world, notes that these discounts are often substantial. At one point in 2008, for example, a student could purchase her own copy of the Microsoft Ultimate Office suite at a discount of 91% off of the regular price.
You may want to use an instructional book to reinforce the concepts that you teach. While Word and Excel both feature Help sections that address many common concerns, there are plenty of books on the market that include tutorials and tips to improve your students' experiences with the programs. The "Dummies" books marry words with screenshots to help you communicate even the most complicated task in Word or Excel.
At times, you may ask your students to learn a new skill before one of your lessons, or the student may want to remind herself, for example, how to create a table in Word. Online videos can be a helpful addition to your teaching of Word or Excel. Video archive sites such as YouTube feature tutorials about how to use Word and Excel.
It can be helpful to provide the student with a syllabus and notebook when helping a student learn how to use the computer. Before your class, you can prepare synopses of what you want your student to remember from a particular lesson. Further, if you provide (or instruct the student to bring) a notebook, she can jot down specific reminders that address her specific problems.
Ideally, your students will have their own computers to use while you're teaching. In some computer labs, the instructor's computer is connected to a projector, allowing the student to follow along as the teacher demonstrates how to use programs such as Word or Excel. Even without a projector in the classroom, having each student on their own computer allows them to get more hands-on work than they would otherwise.