Philosophy

Learning math and doing math should be FUN! Math is about discovering and using patterns in our world, not simply getting the right answers to made up problems. When I tutor students, we explore, describe, and manipulate patterns using games, tools, models, puzzles, and real world situations that match their interests. 

Some students I work with have had not-so-great math class experiences. This causes them to believe and say things like, "I'm not good at math" or "I'm not a math person." My main goal for these students is to help them understand that they ARE good at math and they ARE a math person. I truly believe that everyone is a math person! One-on-one or small group tutoring allows kids to experience math in a new, relaxed setting which builds their skills and confidence over time.

Other students have had positive home or school math experiences, and they come to me already loving math. With these students I focus on helping them dig deeper and explore their specific mathematical interests. In most cases I believe it's best for high-achieving students to make connections, apply their learning in new contexts, and understand the why, rather than rushing ahead to learn future grade level content.