Math Major and Teaching Assistant with Empathy

Melvin J.

I have my BS in Computational and Applied Mathematics and worked as a teaching assistant and tutor for four years in college. I most enjoyed helping students who were having trouble with Calculus and have an experise in Texas Instruments graphing calulators as they relate to Calculus specifically. I gave a presentation to my college professors on how best to use them in their classrooms.

My core tutoring philosophy:
My approach to tutoring Calculus is to first understand how the student is thinking, not just what they’re getting wrong. I focus on building intuition before formal procedures, using multiple representations - graphs, words, and algebra so concepts stick. I also normalize confusion and help students develop strategies so they become more independent over time, not dependent on me.

How I approach a student who is struggling:
I start by asking the student to explain the problem in their own words so I can see where their understanding breaks down. Often, the issue isn’t algebra, it’s an underlying concept like what a derivative represents. I rebuild from there using visuals or real-world meaning, then gradually reintroduce the formal steps.

How I support students:
Many students think they’re bad at Calculus when they’re really just missing one or two foundational ideas. I normalize that struggle and focus on quick wins early in a session to rebuild confidence. Once students feel capable, their performance improves rapidly.

I usually teach High School to College students one-on one, but am also available for group sessions.