I'm John, I love math, and I enjoy helping others succeed in this subject. Math has always been easy for me, but I know it's a struggle for many. I took Calculus in high school and placed out of two levels of college Calculus. But toward the end of my Applied Mathematics college degree work, the math became very complicated. To my surprise, I had to work very hard and began to dislike math at that level. That experience helped me relate to those who struggle. So when I tutor in math, I try to...
I'm John, I love math, and I enjoy helping others succeed in this subject. Math has always been easy for me, but I know it's a struggle for many. I took Calculus in high school and placed out of two levels of college Calculus. But toward the end of my Applied Mathematics college degree work, the math became very complicated. To my surprise, I had to work very hard and began to dislike math at that level. That experience helped me relate to those who struggle. So when I tutor in math, I try to simplify things and give practical examples so it "hits home" better.
I believe to truly learn, a student needs to understand the "Why's" behind the material and as much as possible independently write down the steps to solve problems. After assessing for weaknesses, I ask students questions to guide them to solutions; I wait until they are truly "stuck" before telling them how to do the work so that learning occurs at a deeper level. I do this in an encouraging, positive, and constructive way. I also train students how to organize their work on paper, double check for silly mistakes, and make sure their answers make sense; these tips alone are worth many points on tests!
Besides my education in math, I have been a piano teacher and had many positions in industry requiring me to use math and teach at many levels; examples include forecasting at IBM, Master Production Scheduling Manager for a forklift manufacturer, Financial Analyst, and Manager of Documentation and Training where I developed lessons and logged hundreds of hours of classroom teaching. I most enjoy teaching one-on-one. It is important for me that my students become more proficient in math, and it is also gratifying when I help people of all ages become more confident and succeed in life in general.
If you're unsure whether to proceed with scheduling a lesson with me, let's talk through any questions you have so that the tutoring experience will be a pleasant and successful one. I look forward to hearing from you and helping whomever I teach excel in math.
