Thomas
Certified Tutor
I am passionate about math and I love to teach it to others. I have found that when I teach math, I learn it even more from working with my students. I feel this makes me an even better teacher in the future.
I have taught math the high school and technical college levels. Many students have commented that they had never understood math until they had been in my class. Prior teachers had never explained the concepts in a manner which they could understand.
I have also tutored many people, mostly relatives, in both math and physics. I tutored most of these students face to face but some, such as my daughter and her college friends, I tutored online using Facetime. Some students who did not understand the material when they came to me have gone on to successful careers using the material we covered. My nephew who I tutored in high school physics went on to become a mechanical engineer with Anheuser Busch. I tutored my niece in algebra and she now has a career with Boeing.
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Missouri -Rolla - Bachelors, Computer Science
Graduate Degree: Webster University - Masters, Secondary Education - Math
- ACT Composite: 34
Scuba diving, underwater photography, camping, reading
- ACT Math
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- Calculus
- Discrete Math
- Geometry
- Math
- Pre-Algebra
- Pre-Calculus
- Test Prep
- Trigonometry
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that students learn best when they are motivated and challenged. As students are challenged a bit beyond their comfort zone, they can achieve success and increase the scope of their comfort zone. In this way, the students can increase their confidence at the same time as they increase their knowledge and skills.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would want to talk to the student, learn their level and ability and confidence in their self, and then talk about where they want to go with their knowledge. I would want to know about any concerns they are having with their current studies, and then we could discuss what I am going to do to help them overcome their difficulties.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I would want to help them understand the material they are currently covering, let them work through some problems with my support, and then have them work through problems on their own. I would like to briefly discuss their upcoming topics, have them read the section prior to them attending class, and have them attempt the assignment prior to our next meeting.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I would want to get to know what they are interested in and where they see themselves going in life. I would then like to talk about how knowledge of math can help them achieve or surpass their goals.