I have been a licensed attorney for almost thirty years, although I retired from the full-time practice of law to homeschool my son. I have always been interested in math and science, and used that opportunity to brush up on all of my academic skills. In my spare time, I began to tutor students from elementary to high school levels, in a variety of subjects. I also taught geometry and algebra in the high school classroom.
In general, I want students to be excited about learning, and to realize that using critical thinking skills is the most powerful thing they can do for themselves. As an attorney, I also bring meta-skills to the table: the ability to step back and see the bigger picture; to organize work and schedule time for the most productivity; and to grasp how each subject is intertwined with every other subject.
In particular, I look over the work completed by a student to see where he is having trouble, then implement an individualized plan for dealing with problem areas. I usually assign homework, as practice is essential to learning. Hard work counts as much as does innate intelligence in improving grades and test scores.
I want students to understand that learning is a life-long occupation if you do it right; to realize that everything that we learn builds on what we already know; and to recognize that the work that we do in school is preparation for dealing with life.
I continually update my own knowledge by blogging on education and I hone my critical thinking skills at my blog.
So how did the homeschooling turn out? My son graduated from high school at the same time he earned an A.A. Degree in Mathematics, at the age of 16.
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