Tutoring Approach...
I have been teaching and tutoring math for over 17 years. I've learned the most important task in tutoring is to get the students to understand the "What" and " Why" in math. I encourage students to ask themselves two simple questions, "What is the problem asking me to do and what steps do I need to complete to answer what is asked?" In total contrast, most math classes today are built and taught around repetitious methodology.
When teachers teach a math topic, students repetitiously perform the steps over and over, and are assessed to see if they've mastered the content. However, when those same students are tested at the end of the term with a cumulative exam, most students don't perform as well as they did on the weekly or chapter test. This is because the math is only memorized for that moment and is never learned by the student.
My approach is the total opposite. Before we go over the steps in doing math problems, we focus on the "language" of math. Math comprehension is the most important step in understanding math. In order to understand what is asked mathematically, it is essential that students learn the language of math. Once this is understood completely the learning process can begin. This is the foundation of how I approach any math subject or topic that needs to be addressed.
I have been teaching and tutoring math for over 17 years. I've learned the most important task in tutoring is to get the students to understand the "What" and " Why" in math. I encourage students to ask themselves two simple questions, "What is the problem asking me to do and what steps do I need to complete to answer what is asked?" In total contrast, most math classes today are built and taught around repetitious methodology.
When teachers teach a math topic, students repetitiously perform the steps over and over, and are assessed to see if they've mastered the content. However, when those same students are tested at the end of the term with a cumulative exam, most students don't perform as well as they did on the weekly or chapter test. This is because the math is only memorized for that moment and is never learned by the student.
My approach is the total opposite. Before we go over the steps in doing math problems, we focus on the "language" of math. Math comprehension is the most important step in understanding math. In order to understand what is asked mathematically, it is essential that students learn the language of math. Once this is understood completely the learning process can begin. This is the foundation of how I approach any math subject or topic that needs to be addressed.
