The student is always at the center of my approach to tutoring and mentoring. It's not about showing what I know, but rather helping students accomplish their goals. If you dislike a math or computer subject and just need to pass it, I get it. I've been there with subjects myself (I'm talking to You, Biology). If you're super pumped by a subject and just need a little help, that's great too.
Every student is different, with varying needs and goals. I hone in on what you need and what style...
The student is always at the center of my approach to tutoring and mentoring. It's not about showing what I know, but rather helping students accomplish their goals. If you dislike a math or computer subject and just need to pass it, I get it. I've been there with subjects myself (I'm talking to You, Biology). If you're super pumped by a subject and just need a little help, that's great too.
Every student is different, with varying needs and goals. I hone in on what you need and what style works for you, rather than being fixed and inflexible. I don't adhere to a single tutoring method.
One student who stands out was a star athlete in high school. He came across as though he just gave up and couldn't do math. Unfortunately, he needed to pass Geometry in order to stay on his sports teams. He worked hard and earned a B in Geometry. The difference in his confidence level before and after was huge. Even if he never opened a math book for the rest of his life, he knows he can deal with a challenge and overcome it.
In terms of my education. I earned a BS in Mathematics from Carnegie Mellon in 1989. Yes, there was math back then. Subsequently I completed the coursework for an MS in Mathematics at New Mexico State University, but did not technically earn the degree.
My math teaching experience spans Algebra, Calculus, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus while I was in graduate school, as well as computer courses including Introductory Computer Courses, Visual Basic Programming and C Programming at Doña Ana Community College in Las Cruces, NM.
My tutoring experience began during this time in graduate school and includes all of the subject areas I just mentioned, in both math and computer science.
Tutoring in my professional life goes by the name "mentorship" and is an ongoing role I embrace as a senior software developer. I am fortunate that clients value my expertise and enable me to foster the skills of junior developers in various areas including programming style and optimization (math skills woot woot!).
