Sympathetic Tutor for Advanced Math.

Tom Q.

Algebra 1

Algebra 1 is part of my routine courseload as a teacher. I'm known for a patient approach that 1) Encourages students to do as much of the work themselves as they can. 2) Presents and represents core concepts in different ways and in different situations, to ensure mastery. 3) Adjusts instruction according to the student and finds ways for struggling students to grasp the essentials.

Algebra 2

Algebra II builds on the foundation of mathematical literacy for all secondary math, extending the skillset to interpreting real-word data and charts. I love teaching algebra because once I unlock the code for them, I see students become fluent with algebraic problem-solving. I use clear explanations, multiple modalities, and a puzzle-oriented approach to make practice fun and engaging.

Calculus

Calculus is a capstone course in all the work going into a college major in STEM. It combines all the different demands of prior coursework, and the demands of rigorous understanding, rapid problem solving, and proof of counter-intuitive theorems can be intimidating. I make the road to mastery much easier, however, by clearly delineating the areas where the student needs to shore up fundamental skills. I also help motivate conceptual understanding by exposing students to alternate conceptualizations of calculus when appropriate (such as by extending the real numbers, for example).

Geometry

Geometry is where many students first meet the rigors of mathematical proof. This can be intimidating for some, but my passion for the subject helps makes discovering this often-misunderstood area of math fun, while developing the spatial intuitions that are essential in any further study.

Probability

Probability and statistics may have a bad rap as complicated and arbitrary, but are integral to all of the sciences. I help students beyond the worksheet and rote memorization to strong analogy between probability and our everyday spacial intuitions. When probability is intuitive, not only is the process of learning statistics more fun and engaging, but one starts to develop the skills to interface more creatively and thoughtfully with the alphabet's soup of probabilistic and statistical facts in learned public discourse.

SAT Math

I scored a 1550 out of 1600 on my first try for college applications on the SAT. I know the mathematics many times over and will help students to internalize the optimizations for this test format. I also proctor and teach SAT prep classes in a high school setting. I'm familiar with the rules and processes of realistic testing environments and can help students to feel at ease in a testing room. I can also teach math so that it is connected to the test and students feel more confident on testing day.