Alan
Certified Tutor
I have a B.S. in Mathematics, and have been working as a private tutor for several years now. I have worked with students across a wide range of ages between 8th grade to adults returning to college.
I try to focus on helping students overcome the difficulties that prevent them from participating in their classes, and encourage them to be more independent. Most often these difficulties often range from inexperienced study skills, insufficient time for classwork, long absence from school, and deficiencies in prerequisite material.
Personally, I like math. I'm fascinated by the different fields and the history of how people solve new problems. While I find math exciting and interesting to study, I do realize not everyone needs to know Calculus or Abstract Algebra to be successful. If you are the kind of person who doesn't like math, that's okay. I have experience adapting material to different learning methods.
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Undergraduate Degree: Arizona State University - Bachelor of Science, Mathematics
Video games, classic science fiction, learning art.
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- Algebra 3/4
- AP Calculus
- AP Calculus BC
- Calculus
- College Algebra
- Geometry
- Math
- Other
- Pre-Algebra
- Pre-Calculus
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Trigonometry
What is your teaching philosophy?
When working with a new student, I find that the best way to start is to ask them to show me what they do know and on which parts they would like to focus.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
In the first session I will probably be trying to get an estimate on your level of experience. I also would like to get a feel of how you solve problems. Some students are visual learners while others are more verbal. We will work on your class work together and I will ask follow-up questions just to see what you think about the material.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
The first step to becoming an independent math learner is to fill in the gaps. In grade school, you can be moved to the next level with an 80%. However, if the new material you are working on is dependent on that missing percentage, it is really hard to move on. You can think of math as if you are learning another language. Imagine if you knew only 80% of a new language. It might be enough to visit another country, but if you have to live there it would cause difficulties day to day. Once we fill in the missing ideas, you can focus on just the new ideas in the advanced classes.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
It is easier to focus if you can find a connection between your classwork and what really excites you. If you can find the connection between what excites you and what you do in school, it doesn't feel like work.