Hello prospective students and parents,
No matter the aspect of life, every area and event must be approached with enthusiasm, passion, and most importantly a smile. If passion and enthusiasm are not present, then each day moves you one step closer to normality. Teaching math and coaching athletics are my job description, but waking up everyday with the devotion to adapt how others approach their lives is what I’m dedicated to. Anyone can call themselves a teacher, but how many teachers can adjust and improve the way those around them think and approach their daily lives?
My approach to being a tutor for your child is the same as my approach in my classroom everyday. Each student learns differently (visual, cognitive, auditory, hands-on etc). My job is to maximize how each child is presented with, retains and practices each concept. I allow students to work and learn in their own way, presenting information in a way that fits their learning style. I use small groups and individual instruction time daily in all four of my 90 minute math blocks. This has allowed me to learn to cater to each child's specific needs, while also teaching to the whole class. If your child is not reaching their highest level of comprehension on a topic, I will adapt to how your child learns best and increase their level of comprehension, no matter the topic. This is a strength in my classroom and will translate into your individual child's academics. The largest deficiency in the classroom is the students ability to take the information from a word problem and decide what the next step is. I have adapted what I call an "IQ Test". This teaches students to dissect the word problem one sentence at a time, extracting the important information and the question, leaving only the important information and the question being asked for the student to work with.
I am currently a 7th grade math instructor, but my drive lies in becoming a professor at a university. I want to teach others how to learn and teach. I was lucky enough to have a few professors through college that put the learning in my hands as opposed to regurgitating facts to memorize and forget. My daily challenge is to share this process with every student I encounter so they can be more aware at an earlier age, allowing them to positively utilize their time with what drives them.
Painting, hiking, and new adventures are part of my daily life. I love the feeling of starting with a blank canvas and turning it into a vision of freedom. The world is a learning experience. No matter how great or lacking a person’s life, there is always something that can be learned and appreciated. Attain what works from others and adapt it to your life. Mistakes are evident, but improvement is not guaranteed. We must be able to take our failures and turn them into successes, no matter how minute these advancements are. If you fall, understand why and alter your actions. We can’t progress if we continue to make the same missteps.
“If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.” Jim Valvano.
I look forward to helping your student progress in their educational school year,
Mr. Matt
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