Math Tutor Experienced in Working with Broad Range of Students

Tara B.

I am a former PhD candidate in political science who is prepping to go back to graduate school to study math. I currently work as a math tutor at my local community college, as well as at an afterschool program. In addition to prep for graduate school, I am also in the process of finishing an Associate's Degree in computer science in the next few months. Not only does continuing my education better my ability to teach, teaching and tutoring strengthens my understanding of my fields of interest.

I have been teaching math exclusively for the last 2 years, but I have also taught English as a Foreign Language in Russia as well as been a graduate student instructor for political science. I work primarily with 8th graders and community college students, and given the difference between the two groups, I have a sensitivity to the specific needs of students. I have also worked with students with learning disabilities, including Tourette's Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Pedagogically, I like to focus on the motivations and concepts in math primarily, and want to show computation as derived from concept. Why we do something in math is as important as how we do it, if not more. This is an approach commonly used for college math, but it can be especially helpful for younger students, especially those who do not consider themselves good at math due to computational skills. Visualization, intuition, and formalization of concepts are very helpful for students who are otherwise bright, but have a weak spot. I also believe that it is more important for students to try hard things and struggle with them, instead of just performing at a level they can get a perfect score at.