James' Math Tutoring

As an economics major who is finishing up his last year in college, I feel as though I can relate to students being that I am close in age range to the many people I teach. Since my primary focus is on tutoring algebra, calculus, and other related courses, a majority of students seeking help in these subjects are high school and college students alike. Having also just completed a minor in mathematics this past semester, this likewise helps bolster my qualifications and credentials.

Apart from all the sales talk, the one differentiator between myself and other tutors is that I spend the time hammering home concepts. My mantra is that if a student can do the hardest problem from their homework, they should have no problem with the rest. Essentially, it is not enough to know how to calculate and plug numbers into an equation because this doesn't show me that a student has understood the concept. Instead, it just shows that that person knows how to use a calculator. The reason I emphasize this is because once that individual goes on to higher level mathematics, he or she needs to have a profound understanding of the subject and many times, this also requires outside information in which the student is asked to bridge information together.

Being a student myself, I understand how difficult it is to study any subject, especially math and science related courses. This is because a student is required to not only develop computational skills in the way of arithmetic and algebra, but also has to develop literary abilities in order to solve word problems. This may come to many as kind of a shock, but math and english are mutually inclusive. Taking from my own experience, having failed calculus 1 my first semester at university and learning from my mistakes, I was able to pass the class with high marks the second time around.

I would love to share my knowledge and wisdom with other students in order that they may learn from my mishaps and not make those same mistakes. However, I do encourage trial and error because that is where real learning comes in. Without it, we wouldn't develop much critical thinking skills, would we? Imagine if somebody handed you a paper containing the formula to success, almost no one would be struggling. With that being said, resistance is what differentiates the successful person from the rest of the flock. As the old adage goes, "smooth sailing never made a good sailor."

With all that in mind, allow me to help you navigate the rough waters of mathematics.