All of
Patty’s current tutoring subjects are listed at the left. You
can read more about
Patty’s qualifications in specific subjects below.
ADD/ADHD
I have been a teacher for several years and have taught and tutored many students who where mainstreamed into my classroom. I worked closely with their IEP's and assigned teacher and often served as their mainstream teacher for IEP meetings. I also did my graduate work in Special Education and taught Special Education for 3 years. Additionally, I worked as the remedial math teacher for inner city middle school students with various disabilities. I also worked as an early intervention specialist and wrote the equivalent of an IEP except for the 0-3 population for 8 years. I am now homeschooling my own to children, one of whom is ADD and the other is ADHD/OCD and has anxiety and sensory issues. I have had extensive graduate work dealing with "other health impaired" students, which is what ADHD/ADD falls under. I have extensive knowledge of medications, treatments, side affects and the time windows of ADHD/ADD drugs. This significantly affects when a child is most likely to be successful doing homework and retaining new information. I understand an ADD/ADHD student's need for an ordered and predictable schedule as well as the need for notification when transitions will occur. All of these things help parents help their students when doing homework and tackling difficult tasks. Assisting students with organization of materials and their time is very important in working with these students. Examples of this include color-coding subjects, creating schedules, outlines, lists, and/or a homework assignment book to help the student keep organized. Allowing students opportunity for physical activity during learning sessions is helpful and teaching them self-monitoring strategies to help them focus. Additionally, how instructions are given are very important. One instruction should be given at a time, as multiple instructions are often difficult for the ADHD child to complete. All of these strategies need to be used while tutoring students as well as taught to the child and parent so they can help themselves when the tutor is not present.
Algebra 1
As a math teacher, I have taught and tutored Algebra for several years. Algebra is a very important building block in mathematics and is used in most every other math course you will ever take. I use a variety of strategies, tricks to learn and remember this important material. I try to make it fun and memorable for my students. I have had many students tell me that they could understand my way of teaching and have many requested me for their future math classes. I promise I can make all those x's and y's make sense!
Algebra 2
Algebra II is yet another building block leading up to advance math courses. It goes back to many of the concepts learned in Algebra I and expands each of them to another level. I have taught and tutored Algebra II from struggling students to honors level courses. I have assisted students in preparing for the EOC in NC and other tests in other states. I use a variety of techniques, including review of previous skills that they may be weak in, using manipulatives as well as finding creative ways to explain the problem they are struggling with.
Discrete Math
Do you remember Algebra and Geometry class and someone asked, "when will I ever use this?" Discrete mathematics doesn't fall into that category, as it is the real world and practical math that you are more likely to use. Computer science in built upon discrete mathematics. Many students actually find it to be fun, and a little more relevant to them.
Discrete math deals with objects such as integers, propositions (either true or false statements), sets, relations and functions that are not continuous, thus they are separate from each other. Discrete math includes subjects such as logic, combinatorics, number and graph theory, reasoning, sets, functions and algorithms.
I have a degree in Mathematics Education and have taught and tutored high school mathematics for several years. I am certified to teach all types of mathematics courses, including Discrete Mathematics. I am not just a tutor who did well in math, I actually have a degree in math and had to pass the Math Praxis test to be certified.
Tutoring will consist of answering questions raised during a recent class or homework assignment, reviewing and reteaching material, working on problems together and guiding you through independent practice.
Geometry
As a math teacher, I have taught and tutored a variety of levels of Geometry, including remedial Geometry, regular Geometry and Honors Geometry. I have assisted many students in successfully passing the EOC in this course in NC as well as preparing them for their graduation exam in Indiana. I use a variety of strategies and tricks to learn and remember the material. I try to make it fun and memorable for my students. I have had many students tell me that they could understand my way of teaching and have many requested me for their future math classes.
Prealgebra
As a math teacher, I have taught and tutored both Pre-Algebra and Algebra for several years. Algebra is a very important building block in mathematics and is used in most every other math course you will ever take. I use a variety of strategies and tricks to help students learn and remember this important material. Pre-Algebra assists students in preparing for this course and makes them more confident going into Algebra I. I try to make it fun and memorable for my students. I have had many students tell me that they could understand my way of teaching and have many requested me for their future math classes. I promise I can make all those x's and y's make sense!
SAT Math
In preparing for the SAT, I do several different things, including reviewing the best test-taking strategy for this test. I also do subject matter reviews, give problem-solving strategies and review problems that students omit or miss when taking practice tests. We will also work through some new problems together, so I can see how you would approach it and give tips and strategies to handle problems you are unsure of.
Special Needs
I have been a teacher for several years and have taught and tutored many students who were mainstreamed into my classroom. I worked closely with their IEP's and assigned teacher and often served as their mainstream teacher for IEP meetings. I also did my graduate work in Special Education and taught Special Education for 3 years and managed the cases of many special needs students. Additionally, I worked as the remedial math teacher for inner city middle school students with various disabilities. I also worked as an early intervention specialist and wrote the equivalent of an IEP except for the 0-3 population for 8 years. I am now homeschooling my own two children, one of whom is ADD and the other is ADHD/OCD and has anxiety disorder, sensory issues and a learning disability. I am very comfortable with children who need a different approach to learning. Many students need things taught to them differently and this is true in a classroom where no students have been identified as having special needs. I believe we all have disabilities in some area, whether it be reading maps, math, reading comprehension or some area that is not necessary to be successful in school, therefore it is unidentified. Everyone deserves to be taught in a way they can understand so they can enjoy learning.
Study Skills
As a teacher and tutor of both math and special education, teaching students study skills is very much a part of those jobs. This is a multi-faceted need and requires a multi-faceted approach. Organization is the first component. Teaching students how to organize their assignments, papers, materials and time is a priority. Teaching communication skills and questioning skills make sure they can give and get the information needed to complete assignments. Reading and skimming skills are also part of the equation. I also teach internet and research skills to help students collect all the needed information. Also important is note-taking skills and creating study materials. I look at the students needs and the type of class we are looking at to capture critical information. I have taught the Cornell method and variations of it. I also teach them how to create study materials like note cards and how to use Quizlett. We also look at test-taking skills like answer elimination, trial and error, and I require students to read the question twice, then underline or highlight the question. They are to go back and reread the question before selecting their final answer. I also teach them how to keep up with their progress and grades. All these components, as well an individual recognition of other issues for each student, is vital.