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Mathematics Tutor to Help Regain Math Confidence
Darron V.

5.0 (97 ratings)

292 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $50
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Response time: 9 minutes

About Darron

Bio

I can understand why a lot of students these days fall behind or lose interest in math. This tends to happen in the middle school years (around grades 3 through 5), but can also happen later in a child's school career, especially as subjects merge going into Pre-Algebra and Algebra, where confidence in all previous subject matter is often required.

Once that nagging feeling starts ("I don't really get this"), a student’s enthusiasm and self confidence can go downhill fast.

My goal as a...

I can understand why a lot of students these days fall behind or lose interest in math. This tends to happen in the middle school years (around grades 3 through 5), but can also happen later in a child's school career, especially as subjects merge going into Pre-Algebra and Algebra, where confidence in all previous subject matter is often required.

Once that nagging feeling starts ("I don't really get this"), a student’s enthusiasm and self confidence can go downhill fast.

My goal as a tutor is twofold. First, I'll help your child keep up with current schoolwork so they get their assignments in on time and are ready for the next test. But secondly (and perhaps most importantly), we'll build up their math confidence and I'll help them realize there really isn't such a thing as being "bad at math". At best it's possible to make it one of their favorite subjects, and at worst it can easily become something they are no longer afraid of or dread.

Today’s math teachers are under a lot of pressure to keep their classes moving forward as a group, and so there’s not much help for any individual student who starts to fall behind. That’s where tutoring can be very helpful!

I find tutoring to be very fulfilling and personally rewarding. I’m good at quickly assessing where a student is (academically) and figuring out where they may have started to fall behind. I love working with kids. I have an 11 year old daughter whom I've been very involved with helping navigate the bumpy waters of school also. I taught Math Intervention at her elementary school (Park Hill Elementary) for two years.

I have a bachelor degree in computer science and work as a software engineer in Denver. I have extensive experience tutoring in all areas of mathematics (up to pre-calculus).

First tutoring session is free, and we can spend over an hour if necessary to figure out if we’re a good fit! Thanks and don’t despair – math can really become fun and interesting to anyone, once they start to feel they are gaining mastery over it.

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Education

SUNY Stony Brook
undergrad

Policies

  • Tutor’s lessons: In-person
  • Hourly Rate: $50
  • Rate details: First meeting/session is free to see if we're a good fit. I don't charge a cancellation fee (I know things come up).
  • Travel policy: Within 15 miles of Denver, CO 80223

  • Background check passed on 12/27/2012

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

Algebra 1

Algebra 1

Algebra 1 is usually the most problematic course for many students, because it brings together all the various topics of Arithmetic that they learned during elementary school over the course of several years. Students often have difficulty remembering all the rules and are out of practice, which presents a big problem when they get to Algebra 1 and are suddenly called on to pull all these ideas together and use them all at once. It is quite a leap from Arithmetic to Algebra. The ideas are more abstract and demand much more from the student’s problem solving skills and creative abilities. For example, when learning how to solve linear equations, it can be overwhelming for many students when told “there is no one correct path to solving this equation.” In Algebra, you are free to test out ideas, go down dead ends, try out different approaches to see if it gets you closer to a solution or gives you some insight on a better approach. My approach to tutoring this material differs slightly with each student, but in general I first try to assess any weak spots in the child’s understanding of Arithmetic. I then will go over Algebra concepts and ask them high-level questions, to see if they really understand what they are being asked to learn, or if they are just memorizing rules and procedures. Algebra 1 can actually be incredibly interesting, challenging, and engaging for any student, once they start to see its usefulness and once they are given a chance to use their creativity and insight to do real work. Algebra 1 is also a critical stage in a child’s academic development: this is the point where they will decide if they “hate math” or if they think math is “easy and fun.” A very exciting time!
C

C

I've been programming since I was 11 years old (now 30 years ago!). I started in BASIC, like many people from that era of home computers, but in my teenage years I wanted to make games, and the language of choice for that was C. So I poured everything I had at learning the language, and today I can confidently say I understand it at a deep level and could help anyone learn it.
Computer Science

Computer Science

I have a degree in Computer Science from SUNY Stony Brook, NY. Computers (and programming) have been my #1 hobby and passion from an early age. I can't get enough of it. My house is full of old computers, books on programming, and binders full of programming projects I've worked on over the years. I'm also still very interested in the theoretical aspects of the field which are usually taught in a CS series: data structures, algorithms, hardware architecture, language design, and so on. I love all this stuff!
Discrete Math

Discrete Math

I received an A in my discrete mathematics course in college, while pursuing a computer science degree.
Elementary Math

Elementary Math

These are critical topics for a young student to master. Getting a really good understanding of these ideas is the key to success later down the road. A lot of this stuff even adults take for granted, and I bet many people (myself included sometimes) can benefit from reviewing the fundamentals. Personally, I think this level of math is the most important of all.
Elementary Science

Elementary Science

I was an average science student in school, but over the years I've become a self-learner. I'll pick up any book on science, physics, astronomy, you name it, no matter how theoretical or abstract. I have a real passion for this stuff, and hopefully I can share that enthusiasm with others.
General Computer

General Computer

Just about any job or career a student will go into these days will involve computers, in some way or another. I have a bachelor degree in computer science and work professionally with software on a daily basis. I find that you don't need to know a ton about computers in order to use them effectively, but a few key concepts are mandatory. I should know, I've been helping my mom learn how to use computers for quite a while. She's now up to the point of using email regularly, making video conference calls, surfing the web for information that interests her, and so on.
Grammar

Grammar

I am mostly interested in tutoring math, but this can't be separated from learning how to communicate clearly. Learning to communicate better is the key to advancing far in math, because at the upper levels, the more abstract and theoretical the ideas become, and that means the more talking and sharing of ideas will be needed for a student to really understand the material. Math aside, good grammar will help a student with every other subject in school, and with life in general outside of school.
Java

Java

Programming is a fun way to try out different kinds of algorithms in math, such as the Fibonacci Series, sorting numbers, searching through a set of data. You really don't have to know a great deal of technical information to get started in programming, especially in Java, and you will be surprised how much you can do with just a little bit of this knowledge.
Logic

Logic

I've taken many different logic classes in college, the most interesting (to me anyway) being Symbolic Logic. I love the puzzle-like nature of the subject, and I understand that computer science (my main field of interest) is rooted in the subject, and so have taken a great interest in it. I'm also interested in math, and I enjoy reading through a proof that is well written.
Prealgebra

Prealgebra

I really enjoy teaching Pre-Algebra topics, especially topics like prime numbers and factorization. These topics don't have to be boring. In fact, if you get to know a little about the history of how these ideas were discovered, you might find them fascinating.
Reading

Reading

I'm mostly interested in tutoring math, but good communication skills are essential in succeeding in math, and that includes good reading skills. Since math subjects can involve very abstract ideas, good reading skills are critical in order for a student to understand these ideas.
SQL

SQL

If you have any interest in pursuing a career in software, databases are pretty much in every industry these days, so they're essential to learn about and understand. SQL is the query language you use to get a subset of information out of a database, a way to make sense of all that data. It sounds incredibly boring, but in fact it can be just the opposite.
Trigonometry

Trigonometry

I'll be completely honest how I feel about trigonometry: it's not really a practical field of knowledge anymore. It's used in many areas of engineering and science, but not directly. But that doesn't mean it's not worth learning. Trig really boils math down to what it's all about: finding patterns in the world around us. Think of trig as a kind of mental exercise, like going to the gym for your brain. The more you flex these muscles, the better you'll be at finding patterns in other areas of mathematics.
Writing

Writing

Writing is, of course, a critical skill for any student to master. It is through reading, writing, and verbal communication that we exchange ideas. And in today's world where just about everyone is online and communicating through emails, text messages, and social media sites, good writing skills are essential. Personally, I enjoy writing for its own sake, and I have a lot of practice at it. I've kept a journal, for example, for the past 15 years. I'll write every few days or so, whatever is on my mind. It takes a lot of practice, but the more you do it, the easier it gets.
Geometry
Spelling
Vocabulary
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Ratings and Reviews

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5.0 (97 ratings)
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Reviews

great teacher

my son is enjoying these sessions so far! Darron is very good at refocusing when Tj is really good at getting off track.

Emily, 1 lesson with Darron

Review Lessons in Java

We spent several hours reviewing my lecture material and concepts in Java and in writing programs. Darron was excellent in in explaining all of the concepts I did not understand. After today's meetings I finally began to understand how things flow in Java. Darron is a superb teacher and I will continue working with him throughout this course. Thank you!

Donald, 16 lessons with Darron

Exceptional tutor!

My son has been working with Darron for over a year now and absolutely loves learning with him. Darron is teaching him Java and related Math, but Darron is more than willing and able to teach my son about any other topics that might come up in a lesson. He is also willing to dig deeply into all of it. Darron has a great gift for teaching in an extremely positive and supportive way, while still providing tremendous challenge. We feel so fortunate to have found him!

Natasha, 118 lessons with Darron
Hourly Rate: $50
Response time: 9 minutes
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