How do you approach mathematics tutoring?
My goal when working with math students is to teach them the “whys” of mathematics. Unfortunately, brute memorization of procedures and formulas is a common teaching and studying strategy, and when a student simply memorizes how to solve a particular problem, they are less likely to solve more complex variations of the problem, are prone to making more errors, and will often forget how to solve the problem entirely over time. Because mathematics is cumulative, lack of comprehension of fundamental concepts can appear in later courses. Often, errors in a Pre-Calculus class stem from forgotten or poorly understood topics covered in previous algebra courses.
My experience as an ACT/SAT instructor is an asset for academic mathematics tutoring: the time restraints of standardized test preparation requires quick diagnosis of student weaknesses and efficient and effective explanation of concepts. I bring both skills to math tutoring.
How long are tutoring sessions?
Depending on the needs and workload of a student, math sessions generally range from one to two hours. If we use less time than is scheduled for the session, I only charge for the time used. If the student could use more time than was originally scheduled for the session, any charged increase in session length would be cleared with the parent before continuing.
Do we need to purchase a tutoring package or prepay for hours?
There is no need to schedule more than one session at a time. I also charge for each session after each session is complete in case we use more or less time than scheduled.
We are interested in online math tutoring. How will you review student tests and homework with them?
Thanks to advancements in smart phone apps, scanning and sharing documents no longer requires special hardware or substantial time. I prefer students to use Google Drive for scanning and sharing documents with me. Students should scan and share returned homework and tests, study guides, sample problems, and textbook chapters they would like to review at the sessions. During the session, I am able to load and annotate the scans within WebEx Meetings.
Subjects available for tutoring:
Pre-Algebra
Integrated Mathematics
Algebra 1 and 2
Geometry
Trigonometry
Pre-Calculus