Math Tutor - Deep Understanding Of Math Concepts
About
While I LOVE teaching math to all aged students, I've been particularly successful in helping students prepare for the tests for Selective Enrollment High Schools. This has required them to understand and use strategies taught in the middle grades, 7 and 8.
Having taught for many years I recently retired but have continued to tutor both in person and online. In my last full-time position, I was a math specialis and have a passion for teaching this subject. I am committed to adapting lessons to fit the needs of the learner and enabling students to understand math concepts at a deeper level than learning 'tricks'. I believe that with hands-on activities and diagrams to see how concepts develop and allowing students to discuss their own strategies that they discover, they will grasp concepts more easily.
I have taught every grade level from K to 8 and have an understanding of how students gain mastery and how to determine where they may have lost track. I also know how best to develop the skills they need going forward to more advanced grades to ensure understanding.
In the past, I have been part of teams in writing math curricula relying on current research and designing lessons geared to individual students and the way they learn.
When parents and the students are in agreement, I am very happy to contact the classroom teacher to gain information and insight into the student's strengths and needs. I've developed wonderful relationships with the teachers who usually give me access to the curriculum and provide me with the resources that align with the classroom work.
I work extremely well with students and am always thrilled at their responses to the work we do together. Fortunately, I always hear that they develop a love of math when they gain an understanding of the concepts. My greatest joy as a teacher is knowing that students feel successful and look forward each week to our time together.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I first get to know the student and discuss hobbies, interests, my family, and what we may have in common. I ask about the student's feelings about math and what s/he likes and finds challenging. I also want to know how I can help.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I've been a teacher for 50 years, have helped write math curriculum, have loved teaching and learning about math, have taken many courses in teaching math, and am currently a math specialist. I've tutored students in math in grades K to 8.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge $50 per session which is usually an hour. However, I usually find that the session goes over the time when the student is engaged and wanting to gain a deep understanding. I do not charge for any time over the hour since I never want to stop when a student is feeling successful and willing to learn. I also am very open to students calling me during the week for questions regarding homework, and I never charge for that time if I can answer a couple of quick questions to alleviate the student's anxiety and help them back on track.
How did you get started teaching?
I'm a life-long learner and have been a teacher for 50 years. I've tried to retire but miss teaching too much to do anything else.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked with students in public schools in Toronto, Oregon, and Chicago. I've also been a teacher in private schools in Los Angeles. In my years of teaching I've taught children who were homeless and children who were / are extremely wealthy. I've had highly gifted students and children with learning disabilites including children on the autism spectrum.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I conducted a workshop for parent in the way math is taught now as opposed to how they may have learned math or the traditional way of teaching math. They all told me how much they'd wished I'd been their math teacher and how they would have loved math so much more.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I would explain that all math tutors are not the same. Some will teach 'tricks' and / or algorithms for arriving at solutions. That way of learning math is really ineffective, since they will not gain the understanding they need to really learn math effectively.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
• When did you love math?
• In what areas of math did you find you were successful?
• When did you start to get frustrated?
• How do you think you learn best?