Patient K–12 Math & Reading Tutor | 8 Years Teaching & Tutoring

David C.

Algebra 1

In Algebra 1, I focus on the moves students use in every unit: combining like terms, solving multi-step equations, graphing lines from slope and intercept, and turning word problems into equations. I have students explain each step aloud so I can catch the misconception, not just the wrong answer. I follow the student's own textbook or curriculum and can help them prepare for unit tests and semester finals. I've tutored and taught for 8 years.

Business

I have 8 years of tutoring experience in business, and I hold a BA in Business Management from Pasco-Hernando State College. I cover topics such as management principles, marketing basics, accounting and finance fundamentals, business communication, and entrepreneurship. I start by diagnosing where a student's gaps are, then work through concepts step by step with real-world examples and practice problems. I regularly check for understanding by asking students to explain ideas back to me and apply them to new scenarios. I am self-taught in my tutoring methods and a former Pasco County Schools substitute teacher.

Elementary (K-6th)

I have 8 years of tutoring experience with elementary students, and I run Life Academy, an online K-12 homeschool program. I help students in grades K-6 with reading, writing, math, and core study habits. I start by diagnosing where a child has gaps, then teach in small, step-by-step pieces with plenty of practice. I check for understanding often by asking students to explain their thinking and try new examples. I am a former Pasco County Schools substitute teacher and I hold a BA in Business Management from Pasco-Hernando State College.

Elementary Math

For K-6 math, I use hands-on models before rules: number lines, place-value drawings, arrays for multiplication and area models for fractions. Many students who "can't do math" are missing one foundation, such as place value or multiplication facts, so I check that first. I keep sessions upbeat and short, and I send parents a note after each one with two or three practice ideas for home.

Grammar

I teach grammar through the student's own writing rather than isolated worksheets: sentence boundaries (fragments and run-ons), subject-verb agreement, punctuation and verb tense. We edit a real paragraph together, name the pattern, and practice it until the student can self-correct. This works for middle school students, high schoolers and adults preparing for tests like the GED or TEAS.

Homeschool

I help homeschool families run their year with confidence. As founder of Life Academy, an online K–12 homeschool program, I work with a curriculum that covers every subject, with its own lessons for each course and week. For a family, I build a schedule and curriculum plan, fill skill gaps in math, reading/ELA and science, support the parent-teacher, and help with state requirements and assessments. In math, I might find that a fifth grader never mastered fractions, then rebuild from fraction basics before returning to the week's lesson. In reading/ELA, I fit phonics or comprehension practice and writing assignments into a steady weekly routine. In science, I turn each week's lesson into a simple experiment or notebook entry so concepts stick. In history and social studies, I pace units across the term so nothing is rushed. I hold a B.A.S. in Supervision and Management from Pasco-Hernando State College (cum laude, 2023), I substitute taught in Pasco County around 2017–18, and I have tutored for about eight years. I am not a certified teacher; I work alongside the parent, who stays in charge of their child's education.

Legal Writing

I have 8 years of tutoring experience in writing, and I hold a BA in Business Management from Pasco-Hernando State College. I focus on clear, structured writing and grammar, such as organizing arguments, building paragraphs, concise phrasing, and proofreading. I do not give legal advice. I diagnose gaps from a student's writing sample, then teach structure and editing step by step with practice. I check for understanding by having students revise their drafts and explain their choices. I am self-taught and a former Pasco County Schools substitute teacher.

Prealgebra

I help students build the skills that algebra depends on: fractions, decimals, negative numbers, ratios and the order of operations. At Life Academy I wrote and teach a "Pre-Algebra Readiness Check-In" class, where students work warm-up problems and get a written note on which skills to practice next. I use that same approach one on one: a short check first, then targeted practice on the exact gap. As a Pasco County Schools substitute teacher, I saw how often a single missing fraction skill blocks a whole unit.

Reading

I help early and struggling readers with phonics patterns, fluency and comprehension. Sessions include reading aloud together, practicing sounds and word patterns, and talking about what we read: who, what, why, and what might happen next. I build on books the child actually wants to read. Through Life Academy's K-12 curriculum I've organized reading lessons by grade, so I know what skills each grade expects.

Study Skills

Many students know more than their grades show because they lack a system. I help students organize assignments, break big projects into steps, make study guides and practice tests, and plan backward from exam dates. I ran classrooms as a substitute teacher and manage Life Academy's curriculum and schedules, so planning and follow-through are things I teach from experience.

TEAS

I have 8 years of tutoring experience, including test preparation, and I help students prepare for all four TEAS sections: reading, math, science, and English. I review reading comprehension, arithmetic and algebra basics, core science concepts, and grammar and language usage. I diagnose gaps with practice questions, then teach each topic step by step. I also teach test strategies such as time management, process of elimination, and careful question reading. I check for understanding with timed practice sets and by having students explain their answers. I am self-taught and a former Pasco County Schools substitute teacher.

Writing

I help students plan, draft and revise: from turning ideas into an outline to writing clear topic sentences, supporting them with evidence and revising for clarity. My B.A.S. coursework in Supervision and Management involved a great deal of professional and report writing, and I bring that structure to essays and assignments. I give specific, kind feedback and focus on one or two skills per session.