Michael Daugherty Math Tutoring

First, I will talk with the parent or guardian to get their feedback and their goals for tutoring. When I meet the student for the first time, I will have a friendly conversation with the student to get to know them. I will want to know their interests, what motivates them. I will share with them the same about me, so that they get to know me as well. For our tutoring sessions, I will ask students to bring what they are working on in Math and then determine what they know and don't know. Every student has unique needs, so once I determine what those needs are, I can develop strategies to help them learn their Math.

* Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education

* Masters Degree in Educational Technology

* 25 years experience teaching public schools 

* Certified by state of Florida in Elementary Education, Educational Media, and Middle School Math (grades 5-9) and am working on getting certified in Math for all grade levels.

My standard rate is $35/hr or a package of 5 sessions for $150. This is my rate if students come to my house for their tutoring. If I have to travel to their house, my rate goes up to $50/hr. 

I have always tutored ever since I was a teenager, but decided to get my education degree when I was in my 30's and become a certified teacher. My first teaching job was teaching a Drop-Out Prevention program in Indian River County, grades 3 through 5. It was a challenging job, but I was up to the challenge and discovered that teaching was my calling. 

I have worked with all kinds of students. Students that lack motivation and students who are highly motivated, students with no parental support and students who have strong parental support, students who struggle and students who are gifted. Teaching in the public schools you don't get to choose who you teach. So you teach everybody who is assigned to you. When you tutor, most of the time the students are motivated to learn, but not always. Sometimes you have to find ways to motivate them.

Just the other day I was picking up a pizza at Little Caesars and a former student of mine recognized me and said, "Mr. Daugherty! Do you remember me? You were my math teacher at Storm Grove Middle School!" I did remember him and we talked for a while. I get this a lot where I cross paths with former students of mine, some who were more challenging than others. It makes me smile to hear them talk about their experiences with me as a a teacher and to see how they've matured into young adults.

I would tell them to find out what they can about that teacher. Maybe they have friends or relatives who have had that teacher. Background information is helpful. Meet the teacher. First impressions are important, but you need to give the teacher a chance, so give the teacher three tutoring sessions in order to determine if that teacher can help you learn whatever it is you are trying to learn.

Logical questions would be, "Do you have any experience teaching my subject/grade level? Do you use any online resources? Which ones? Are you familiar with my textbook?" Other questions they might ask include "Do you have any children? What are your hobbies?"