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Teaching Students to Teach Themselves
Alina K.

5.0 (1,176 ratings)

2,811 hours tutoring

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Hourly Rate: $80
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About Alina

Bio

I have more than 20 years of tutoring and teaching experience. Cultural and demographic diversity of my clients helped me develop teaching styles suitable to very diverse needs of my students. I tutor both, children and adults. My main focus is in Test Preparation, Mathematics, and Statistics. However, I also worked with students studying Russian, Piano, also beginning Economics and Accounting.

Most of the problems that my students have, result from a failure to install in them the thinking...

I have more than 20 years of tutoring and teaching experience. Cultural and demographic diversity of my clients helped me develop teaching styles suitable to very diverse needs of my students. I tutor both, children and adults. My main focus is in Test Preparation, Mathematics, and Statistics. However, I also worked with students studying Russian, Piano, also beginning Economics and Accounting.

Most of the problems that my students have, result from a failure to install in them the thinking strategies and working habits leading to success. Once the students learn those strategies and apply them to every aspect of their education, they have a very little need for a tutor. The amount of time that it takes to develop the correct thinking skills varies in each case, but I have many very happy parents who never have to pay for another tutoring lesson again in order for their son or daughter to earn grades they want.

In my methods I avoid lecturing. Students get plenty of that in the classroom and since they need a tutor, lecturing proves to be ineffective. Instead, I teach them to ask questions and look for answers. My goal is to get a student to think on their own using the techniques and thinking strategies that we develop together. As students grow more independent of the tutor, their confidence and self esteem grows, they are on their way to success.

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Education

University of Hawaii at Manoa
Mathematics

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $80
  • Rate details: If the lesson is not canceled at least 24 hours in advance, the full price of the lesson may be charged.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required

  • Background check passed on 12/22/2012

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

Algebra 1

Algebra 1

I tutored and taught Algebra in Hawaii for a number of years. I worked with both: middle schoolers and college students. Algebra 1 is a transition from working with numbers to applying abstract mathematical concepts. Many students begin to have problems in pre-algebra. In my experience, those who do, have many gaps from previous years. My job is to fill in those gaps, while building their understanding of the current material. The goal is to get students to make connections between numerical operations and application of that to abstract concepts.
Algebra 2

Algebra 2

Algebra 2 was one of the subjects I taught working in the high school system in Hawaii. I know the pains that many students had to go through making a challenging transition from dealing with numbers to more abstract mathematical concepts. Unfortunately, the school system is set up in such a manner that teachers do not always have the time to explain why mathematics works the way it does and many students get lost and confused. This is the main reason why math is one of the most disliked subjects for some. As a tutor I have developed many specific techniques to help my students to better understand why and how these abstract concepts work in the world of mathematics. I use examples that are easy to remember and apply. I use hands-on visual helpers. I also have many interesting books at home that talk about the history of some of those concepts. I strive to make mathematics come to life for my students, so they can see and understand not only how to solve one particular problem, but also how to see a much bigger picture for how math works in the world.
Calculus

Calculus

I have a B.S. in Mathematics form University of Hawaii and Manoa. I have tutored Calculus for many years. My first job, while still a student at UH was to tutor college students in the math lab, where I always had crowds of people coming for assistance with their assignments.
Geometry

Geometry

Geometry was my favorite subject in school. I believe that I had one of the best math teachers a teen can ever have. She is my inspiration when it comes to teaching Geometry as well as any subjects. Geometry was also the first math subject I taught at my first job. It was a summer class. My students told me that I was one of the best Geometry teachers they had and also I heard many positive comments from the parents. Throughout the years I had a number of Geometry student to tutor privately. The biggest problem my students face in Geometry is writing up proofs. I have my own approach to proofs requiring developing analytical thinking, useful in every day life.
Prealgebra

Prealgebra

I have tutored and taught middle school math in public schools. I managed to raise my students standardized scores for 7th and 8th grade math in just one semester by 50% in one of the schools, where I taught long term.
Precalculus

Precalculus

I have taught and tutored Precalculus for many years. In my experience, many students, who struggle with this subject lack a strong Algebra foundation. Let me help you fill in the gaps, so you confidently can take on greater challenges in Math.
Russian

Russian

Born and raised in Russia, I had some of the best Russian Language and literature teaches, a student may wish for. I was often selected for literary competitions and won high prizes. When I came to US, I was teaching Russian individual students as part of our family company Russian Language Tours. I also worked as a Russian tutor for Pacific Language Institute. Most of my Russian students were military taking Russian classes.
SAT Math

SAT Math

Teaching SAT is a big chunk of of my 15 years for tutoring and teaching experience. I have taught SAT math classes while working with College Connections Hawaii, where I received a formal training for teaching the subject. I tutored many individual students on my own time as well, applying the knowledge I got from teaching the classes and fitting my style to the various needs of my clients. So whether you need a crash course on SAT and learn some strategies to earn you those extra points you need, or you really need to brush up on your math skills, I am more than qualified to help you.
Trigonometry

Trigonometry

Trig was one of my favorite subjects at school. Now it is one of my favorite subjects to teach. During my teaching carer, I have developed a number of techniques to help my students grasp trigonometric functions and their wonderful properties better and easier. Let me help you make sense of Trigonometry and may be even have some fun during the process.
ACT Math
ASVAB
GRE
PSAT
SAT Writing

Examples of Expertise

Alina has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 1 question submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

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Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (1,176 ratings)
5 star
(1,153)
4 star
(16)
3 star
(3)
2 star
(2)
1 star
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Reviews

Alina is definitely the cream of the crop!

Alina is SO worth her weight in Gold for those parents that need someone to take the ball and run with it! She is not someone who just sits with your child for an hour and helps him with whatever the student says he needs help with. She digs deeper! She makes sure the student is looking at the Big Picture along with the small details of the next homework assignment due. She helps them longer if they need the time to ‘get it' and cuts the session short if they can do it independently. She emails parents to let them know where their kiddo is at, where he needs to go, and what he needs to get there. She started with my son in Nov., at which point he was struggling in Statistics. In fact, at that time, his Statistics teacher had already mentioned that he ‘might not want to do a 2nd semester of Statistics.' By January, with Alina’s dedicated support, he completed the class with a ‘B' and with the teacher pulling him aside and commenting, “I’m glad you decided to stay and take the 2nd semester in this class.” Dedication, hard worker, math whiz, and integrity! Definitely the cream of the crop!

Jeanne, 25 lessons with Alina

Great teacher!

Alina is worth every penny!! 2 year and counting since we started using her. And she changed my daughter’s mind about math. Thank you Alina.

Angel, 165 lessons with Alina

Experienced and patient tutor, great commnunication

My daughter is taking SAT classes with Alina, and she has demonstrated significant progress after less than ten lessons so far. Alina has significant experience working with different students, and she has built up a set of pedagogical tools to adjust optimally for the specific student's needs. Alina's lessons are very energetic and engaging, and she makes the students think at their maximum capacity - which is the only way to learn and evolve. Another thing I appreciate working with Alina is the written feedback she gives after every lesson, which helps to understand the progress better and maintain effective three-way communication.

Alexey, 34 lessons with Alina

Wonderful tutor

Alina has been super helpful to my son has he is navigating a very challenging curriculum in math. She helps explain concepts thoroughly so that he understands them. I am very thankful for Alina's support

Laura, 11 lessons with Alina

great teacher

Alina was great to work with. She Explained things well. She was also very patient with questions and taking time needed.

Amelia , 7 lessons with Alina

Great teacher!

My son said Alina has a method of teaching and explaining things that is different from any teacher/professor/tutor he has had and it is so much more effective! He says he understands things easily with her that he struggled with previously. He also does not respond well to online tutoring and very much prefers in person, but somehow she has mastered this as well and he is completely fine using her for online lessons. So thankful to have found her!

Lisa, 15 lessons with Alina

Excellent Tutor for Mathematics

Alina is very thorough, effective and engaging in the subject! She knows how to help the student with their problem areas and is quick to uncover their weaknesses. She is efficient with her time. My daughter is excited to attend her tutoring sessions and seems to be gaining confidence and strength in the subject.

Marlo, 15 lessons with Alina

Great geometry tutor!

Alina did a FANTASTIC job of not only helping my daughter with her geometry problems but of taking it to the next level! She made my daughter think beyond the problems to the bigger concepts! My daughter said she was fantastic!

Jean, 19 lessons with Alina

Great geometry tutor!

Alina did a FANTASTIC job of not only helping my daughter with her geometry problems but of taking it to the next level! She made my daughter think beyond the problems to the bigger concepts! My daughter said she was fantastic!

Jean, 19 lessons with Alina

Grades Are Up!

Since meeting with Alina twice a week for Algebra tutoring for my 8th grader, my sons Math grade has gone from a D+ to a B+ in one semester! He used to skip his assignments because he didn’t know how to do them- no missing assignments since last October. His confidence in Math has increased and he doesn’t dread his homework anymore. Alina makes him feel comfortable asking her questions he doesn’t know the answers to and she reviews concepts he might not have gotten the hang of, yet. Alina has a kind and gentle sense of humor with my son and I enjoy listening in on their interactions. I will refer all of my friends and family members to Alina if any of their children are having trouble with Algebra!

Tracy, 69 lessons with Alina
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Response time: 3 minutes
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