Mathematics Tutor

Before tutoring, you have to understand how somebody learns and what methods work and do not work. So before doing the tutoring session, I like to see what strategies work for that person, and how I can make the topic easier for them to understand. For example, if I know the student has ADHD I will make sure that they are given breaks and are not in a tutoring for a long period time. I also believe that is important to have a conversation with the parents and see what they think is best for their child. 

I am a mathematics teacher at a private school in DeLand. While obtaining my Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education in Mathematics, I was doing private tutor sessions on the side as work. This experience allowed me to see that diversity is important when tutoring. I have always wanted to be helpful to people and enjoy the subject mathematics, so tutoring was a way for me to start and establish my career as a teacher.

I normally charge 25 - 30 per hour. 

While I was getting my Associate's degree, I took mathematics classes as electives. As I went further into my Bachelor's degree, I continued to take more mathematics classes. I have always enjoyed the subject, and taking these classes at college level made me realize that I like the complexity there is to mathematics. Taking these classes allowed me to realize that I wanted to be a teacher and make a difference in students lives. My goal is to ensure that kids have a "lightbulb moment" and can genuinely understand a topic introduced to them.

Being a teacher, you are going to see differentiation in the classroom, and and how students learn. Through being a teacher I have learned that some students understand quickly and some need repetition. Majority of the students I've worked with that are struggling can verbalize concepts but don't know how to put it on paper. I also have worked with students who have ADHD and cannot sit still for long when tutoring. So I understand the importance of making sure they have breaks and being patient with them. 

When I first started teaching this 2018 / 2019 school year I had a student who was very quiet and didn't like to ask for help. As I got to know her more and learning about her interest, she began to speak with me more. As she was speaking with me more, she would tell me when she was struggling and when she needed help. She was a student who could verbalize the steps but did not know how to put it on paper. I would work with her one-on-one and work with her in small groups. Months had passed and I noticed she was asking more questions, participating in class,  and answering questions out loud. She was able to take the words she was verbalizing and put them on paper, and genuinely understanding what was being introduced to her. She did have to learn through repetition, but she was able to reach out to me when she was struggling. Seeing her be successful and smiling when she understood something was an absolute highlight of my day!

The advice I would give its find somebody who's going to work with you one-on-one and ask you what your problem areas are. That way if they know where you are struggling, they can find a solution. It is also very important to make sure that they do checks along the way to ensure your understanding what is being introduced. And lastly, can you ask communication with not only the student, but the parent as well.