Cocoa Beach Tutor
About
What sets me apart from other tutors is my attention to the details, which I attribute to the engineer in me, and those details are to identify immediately the gaps in the student’s knowledge and reinforce his learning. With few exceptions, I give each student a free, level-appropriate test I developed. From this test, I can identify his deficiencies in prerequisite knowledge, establish an appropriate plan of action, and teach him these prerequisite concepts in the order needed to succeed in his current math class. A solid foundation is vital to success in future classes.
However, a solid foundation is hard to achieve when the student only works on these concepts with his tutor. It is imperative for most students to have repetition to transition a concept from short-term to long-term memory which is why I wrote my own programs to generate homework with answers for each concept I teach. And although I believe my method helps the students learn faster than traditional tutoring methods, which translates to knowledge and grades rising faster as well as saving them money, my goal is much larger. Weaved into all of this is the student’s self-confidence, which grows with each personal success, allowing an independent adult to emerge. Raising independent adults is paramount to all our interests.
Highlights
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Type of math
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I give each student a free, level-appropriate test I developed. From this test, I can identify his deficiencies in prerequisite knowledge, establish an appropriate plan of action, and teach him these prerequisite concepts in the order needed to succeed in his current math class.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a BS in chemcial engineering. I have tutored math most of my life, starting in 5th grade when my math teacher sent me to the library with a classmate and told me not to come back to the classroom until “Doug” understood everything on the handout. At that point, my tutoring career began, and I was hooked. I continued to tutor all through elementary, middle, and high school. On the first week of my sophomore year at a new school, I was asked to give up my study hall and was paid $12/hr (in 1980 and 14 years old!) to tutor Algebra I to dyslexic students. Woodward Academy in College Park, GA was on the cutting edge of learning how to help students with dyslexia. I continued free tutoring through college, however I tutored a lot more chemistry than math, and even into my engineering career. Many, many times, a co-worker would tell me his child was struggling in math and I would tutor the child. As much as I enjoyed engineering, as our children became teenagers, I felt I needed to be home more during their high school years. By that time, I had been tutoring for 28 years and I decided to go professional. Shortly after opening a tutoring business, I was tutoring 15-25 students a semester and loving it! I was very passionate about wanting the students to understand the math, NOT memorize it. During this time, I also taught at my children’s high school when the math department chair learned I tutored math. Over the eight years our three children when to this high school, I taught Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, as well as a semester of Calculus. It was a blast!!
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge by the hour. That hour includes extra homework with answers that I will give the student to practice concepts we have covered, shoul dit be needed. I am also happy to receive texts with questions should the child need help.
How did you get started teaching?
I believe by answer to a previous question answers this question, too. I have tutored math most of my life, starting in 5th grade, I was hooked. I continued to tutor all through elementary, middle, high school, and college, however I tutored a lot more chemistry than math, and even into my engineering career. I tutored many co-worker's children struggling in math. I decided to go professional after 28 years of tutoring and loving it! I am very passionate about wanting the students to understand the math, NOT memorize it. I also taught Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, as well as a semester of Calculus at my children’s high school. It was a blast!!
What types of students have you worked with?
Because I prefer to tutor math that is algebra and above, I tend to work with teenagers. Male, female, students who just want to keep an A, and student who are failing.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
My favorite part of tutoring is two fold. First, when the student's eye light up because everything started makes sense to him. That is magical!! Second, when I am no longer tutoring a child, receiving a text telling me how well he is doing in school/college is also magical!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Most children do not want to come to a tutor, but almost all of my “kids” enjoy learning with me by the end of the first session. If you do not immediately have a good rapport with your tutor, you will probably want to find a different tutor. It is difficult enough to catch up in a subject without the added burden of communication barriers.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
First, while in class, make a note of the examples or problems that do not make sense to you. Then, after class, try to see which part is confusing you. Sometimes, a student can be so lost he doesn't even know how to ask a question. That's ok. I have enough experience tutoring these subjects that I know where students tend to get lost. Actually, after I am sure a student undsrstands the concept, then I show him how some people get confused with the concept, so the student knows to watch for this on tests.