Search
Laura S.'s Photo

Experienced Math and Science Tutor
Laura S.

5.0 (3,654 ratings)

12,469 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Instant Book

Hourly rate: $55

Claim a session with Laura S. that fits your schedule

See more options

About Laura

Bio

I am an enthusiastic math and science teacher with 20 years of experience teaching all age levels including college. I am especially good at making difficult concepts understandable by helping students to build a step-by step understanding of the information.

I currently tutor a wide-range of math and science related subjects: all k-12 math subjects, biology, and chemistry as well as help students prepare for special entrance exams, like the SAT, Math Level 1 and 2 Subject Tests, Chemistry...

I am an enthusiastic math and science teacher with 20 years of experience teaching all age levels including college. I am especially good at making difficult concepts understandable by helping students to build a step-by step understanding of the information.

I currently tutor a wide-range of math and science related subjects: all k-12 math subjects, biology, and chemistry as well as help students prepare for special entrance exams, like the SAT, Math Level 1 and 2 Subject Tests, Chemistry and Science Subject tests, and NET. I have a personal library of test exam books, video and other materials to aid student learning.

Building effective study skills is a key to success in any class, no matter what age. I will show students a number of techniques to help them understand and retain more information, greatly contributing to their success.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Read more

Education

Washington and Jefferson College
Biology
University of Pittsburgh
Masters
University of Pittsburgh
Other
  • Licensed teacher

Policies

Schedule

Loading...

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Laura hasn’t set a schedule.

We’re having trouble loading this schedule right now. Please try again later.

Approved Subjects

Algebra 1

Algebra 1

I help my algebra students achieve their academic goals by using creative techniques that I have developed over the past 20 years. These techniques include visual as well as auditory cues, enabling students who were struggling with this course to greatly surpass their expectations. Algebra is a key foundational math course, and my students then go on to succeed in higher level math classes, such as algebra 2.
Algebra 2

Algebra 2

Algebra 2 students often struggle with the array of new functions that they encounter, such as quadratic, exponential and log functions, to name a few. I help my students to build a strong foundation in understanding this library of functions, through a variety of visual and auditory mnemonics and other techniques that I have developed over decades of teaching this course. By the end of this course, my students are well prepared to move on to precalculus, where they will dig deeper into this library of functions!
Calculus

Calculus

Calculus is one of the most fascinating and enjoyable classes that I tutor, and my students benefit from my enthusiasm and knowledge. In addition to working with their course material, I have an array of textbooks and workbooks to supplement their sessions.
Dyslexia

Dyslexia

Last summer, I worked one-on-one with a dyslexic girl. Her mother had been concerned because she had only learned to read that past December and was old enough to be in second grade. After I worked with her all summer, she returned to her regular school and was tested. She had advanced two grade levels over the summer and was able to be placed in her correct age group. I have also worked with dyslexic children previous to private tutoring, while working at a local learning center.
Ecology

Ecology

While, I do not encounter as many students needing help with ecology as many other math and science courses that I tutor, I am always ready and able to provide assistance with this course. While earning my undergraduate and graduate degrees, I studied and taught a variety of ecology related courses, including aquatic and terrestrial botany, entomology, and stream ecology. Whether students are working on the ecology portion of a freshman biology class, or taking a full ecology course, I have the background, study techniques, and resources to help attain their academic goals.
Elementary (K-6th)

Elementary (K-6th)

I am an enthusiastic math and science teacher with 18 years of experience teaching all age levels including college. When tutoring elementary students, I incorporate diagnostic testing, workbooks, and school studies into the students' sessions. There are many diagnostic tests available that can help me to assess an elementary student's areas of weaknesses in a range of subjects, including; reading comprehension in a variety of subjects, vocabulary (word recognition and definition), and math skills. Based on the results of the tests, I can then incorporate practice in these areas using workbooks. I also work closely with elementary students in regards to their school studies. My three-part program has been successful in raising students' grades and confidence in their subject matter.
Genetics

Genetics

While in graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh, I was a teaching assistant for a college genetics class for several semesters, and wrote many exam problems, graded exams, and taught recitations for the students. I also taught genetics while homeschooling high school students, and also while attaining my teaching certificate at Taylor Allderdice. Finally, I currently tutor genetics within the realm of biology for high school students.
Praxis

Praxis

I have a secondary certificate in biology and currently teach a wide range of math and science skills to students K-12 through adult. The Praxis exam's math component includes the following math skills: basic operations and numbers, fractions, percents, ratios, exponents, and geometry. I currently teach all of these math skills to my students in courses including: pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, SAT math, and GED math. For Praxis students, I will incorporate a Praxis study book into my library of materials for student practice and review.
Reading

Reading

I have a masters degree in ecology, as well as public and private teaching certificates. I tutor full time, and specialize in math and science, but also have a background teaching in the language arts.
SAT Math

SAT Math

I have tutored SAT math, reading, and writing for the past eight years. I currently recommend that my students purchase the College Board Complete SAT book, which includes 10 practice tests. After reviewing actual SAT tests that were previously taken by students, I have found that the College Board book is most similar to the actual SAT tests. I also utilize workbooks and worksheets to supplement math sessions. My SAT program is very successful, and students find that their scores increase by hundreds of points after completing their sessions. I look forward to helping your student achieve their SAT goals!
ACT Math
Anatomy
ASVAB
Biology
Chemistry
Elementary Math
ESL/ESOL
Geometry
Physics
Prealgebra
Precalculus
Vocabulary
Laura S.'s Photo

Questions? Contact Laura before you book.

Still have questions?

Contact Laura
Response time: 52 minutes

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (3,654 ratings)
5 star
(3,603)
4 star
(51)
3 star
(0)
2 star
(0)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

Great tutor, great results!

My son’s algebra grade was hovering around a failing grade. His last test was a 74 and the one before that was far worse. His first test grade after 2 sessions with Laura was an 89 and I can tell he is getting his math confidence back. It used to be his favorite subject and one he did very well in. Now I think he is on his way back. Thank you Laura!

Michael, 19 lessons with Laura

Excellent Start to Algebra Tutoring

We've only had one session with Laura so far, but more to come! My daughter had a positive experience. Laura was patient, knowledgeable, and did a great job explaining algebra concepts clearly. My daughter felt comfortable and more confident after the lesson. We look forward to future sessions!

Stacey, 1 lesson with Laura

Excellent teacher

Laura stands out among tutors because she is more than a tutor. She is a TEACHER. I appreciate how she has taken the reigns of my son's math study, alleviating his stress--and mine!

Andrea, 2 lessons with Laura

Wonderful precalculus and algebra tutor

Laura has done an amazing job teaching both of my kids. My son had a D in precalc when they first met and after many sessions, he got an 85 on the final. Super responsive and helpful - highly recommend Laura!

Nicole, 13 lessons with Laura

Great tutor

Laura is very patient and a great tutor. She took the time and went through with my son over some concepts to prepare him for his test. She undetstood where he was struggling and helped him.

Ravit, 3 lessons with Laura

Excellent tutor

Laura did an excellent job motivating and engaging my 5th grader ! He dislikes math and she was able to meet him where he's at and help him tremendously in just three sessions prior to his state test ! We are definitely going to continue through the summer to avoid the summer slide and head into 6th grade with confidence. I highly recommend Laura!

Julie, 3 lessons with Laura

Knowledgeable and responsive

My son said Laura is nice and helpful. They got through a lengthy take home assignment in their first session. Laura is incredibly flexible with scheduling and very responsive to messaging. It is helpful when trying to manage a complicated household.

Linda, 4 lessons with Laura

From Struggling to Understanding

We feel so lucky to have found Laura. My son, a junior in high school, was really struggling in Algebra II and had worked with a few tutors before, but none connected with him the way she has. Laura is incredibly patient, understanding, and has a great way of adapting to different learning styles. She’s helped build both his confidence and his understanding, and we’ve seen a significant improvement. We highly recommend her!

Kristin , 6 lessons with Laura

Highly effective and adaptable tutor

Laura has been an excellent tutor for my daughter. From the first session, she demonstrated a strong ability to adapt her teaching style to match my daughter’s learning needs and explains concepts clearly, ensuring understanding before moving on. She focuses on key concepts and commonly tested material, which has been especially helpful for standardized test preparation. Her experience with different learning styles really shows in how she structures her lessons. Most importantly, my daughter feels comfortable, supported, and more confident when working with her, even when covering challenging topics. We’re very pleased with the progress and look forward to continuing sessions with Laura.

Lorena, 7 lessons with Laura

Exceptional math tutor

Laura is currently tutoring both of my children in math- Geometry and Algebra 1- She has a very kind and calm approach, making complex concepts easy for them to understand. What truly impressed me is her dedication. She goes over the scheduled time to ensure the kids fully grasp the material. She also tailors her teaching to match their school curriculum perfectly, which has led to a noticeable improvement in the test scores.

JungSun, 46 lessons with Laura