Corven Mathematics Tutoring

The first thing I do is understand what my student's goals are and their current level of understanding. When there is an immediate goal to accomplish (e.g., a homework assignment or project), I make sure that we spend time making progress on that goal, but I will also bring in supplementary instructional materials if previous understandings need to be solidified. I start by asking the student to talk me through a problem so that I understand their thinking, and I ask questions to elicit and interpret their understanding. Then, I will talk through my process for a similar problem so that they can understand the problem conceptually. Next, I will guide the student through a similar problem using questioning so that they feel confident working through other problems on their own. I am always available for questions throughout the process, but, at the end of the day, the most important goal is that the student feels like they understand mathematics better and feel confident going forward without me there.

I was a mathematics teacher for 10 years at the middle school, high school, and college levels. I have a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, a Master's degree in Mathematics Education, and am finishing my Ph.D in Mathematics Education. I earned perfect mathematics scores on the SAT and GRE and 5s on the AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, and AP Statistics exams. Additionally, I was a writing tutor in high school and college and have reviewed papers for academic journals and conferences.

I offer a free 20 minute online consultation to discuss your (or your child's) tutoring needs; typically, at the end of that consultation, we agree on a tutoring plan and a price. For mathematics, online tutoring sessions run $50-80 per hour depending on the level of content with a 1 hour per session minimum. In person tutoring sessions run $60-100 per hour depending on level of content and travel time required; either a 1 or 1.5 hour minimum per session is required. Discounts are available for group tutoring sessions or for multi-session commitments.

Online writing tutoring sessions are $50 per hour and may be split into two 30-minute sessions (1 hour total minimum). 

I have worked with students from elementary through college!

I think the most important advice is to recognize that the tutor is there to help you learn and understand, not do the work for you. What you get out of tutoring is proportional to the effort you put into it. That being said, you also need to communicate your needs to your tutor. If something isn't working for you, tell them. However, also be open to trying something new! An ideal tutor is not just an expert in their content area, but in how students best learn. They may try different techniques than what your parents or classroom teacher use, so give them a try before rejecting them.

You need to think about both your immediate goals and your long term goals. Your tutor wants you to understand the material and improve your skills over the long term, not just to complete the assignment. The more specific you can be about what you need help understanding AND what your immediate needs are (for example, a project coming due or a looming test), the better able your tutor will be to craft a tutoring plan that will help you meet both your goals.