About
What I have noticed in the more than ten years I have taught math one-to-one is that sometimes a student is only missing a necessary piece or two of understanding that will get them back on track, and other times a student needs someone there every step of the journey. I love math and hate seeing kids learning to hate it just because they can't find success.
I taught both my boys at every level of math as a homeschool parent and off they went to high school to be the top math student in each of their respective graduating classes. I've also worked with many other students from 1st grade up to College algebra. I believe students are helped best by finding a new way to see a problem or sometimes breaking a concept down into it's simplest parts and building the understanding from the ground up.
I have been teacher-of-the-year and have my Masters in Education, but most of all I have spent 30+ years as an uncle, father, teacher, and now tutor. I know how to listen and connect and that is my secret to success.
There is nothing better than to see the frustration melt from a student's face when they finally understand something that had been frustrating them for a while. I have had the pleasure of having students refer to something they did using what I showed them as "big brain". It's a great feeling.
Highlights
Specialties
Grade level
Type of math
Reviews
paige M.
Kevin F.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Ideally the student has a clear feel for what they need to work on, but in the absence of this parents are a primary source of information. Is the tutoring a response to a recent test or has a teacher brought a concern to the parents' attention.
Finally, if a student is looking for general improvement then I would assess them in areas that are common problem spots for students their age.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I graduated from the University of Florida in 1996 with my Masters in Elementary Education. I was a full time teacher for two years each in both second and third grade. After leaving the classroom to homeschool my own, I was brought back to the school where I taught third grade as the math team coach. After teaching, I homeschooled my two boys and was solely responsible for their math instruction until they entered the public school system in high school. Both my sons were the top math students in their respective classes. During my years of homeschooling, I did tutoring on the side and worked with many students on math, including algebra 1.
How did you get started teaching?
Ever since my first nephew was born when I was twelve, I have been involved with children. Nephews and nieces were my start, but when I was in college I worked at a runaway youth shelter for two years. During that time, our in-house teacher left unexpectedly and I was drafted to cover until we found a replacement. I had to figure things out quickly, but after three weeks the thing most evident to me was that I would like to do this more. A year later I was in UF's masters program for elementary education.
What types of students have you worked with?
Teaching my own two boys, I've taught everything through Algebra 1. I've also worked with elementary students, middle school students, and one high schooler who was struggling with Algebra. A majority of the students have had severe deficits in terms of number sense. As a result, I am always on the lookout for this because it can torpedo success in everything else.