Certified Tutors From Guilford Technical Community College

The student easily recalled the meaning and application of absolute value, used reasoning to choose subtraction in a word problem, calculated perimeter, and understood how to work with a composite figure. He needed help seeing how to find the length of an unknown side from other known sides. He reviewed the features of an isosceles triangle. The student needed support answering a fraction addition problem with mixed numbers and a variable. With step by step questioning, he knows how to proceed to the end. He is now able to quickly change mixed numbers to fractions mentally, and knows when it is useful to do so. We reviewed order of operations and the mnemonic "PEMDAS" -- work within parentheses first and so on. Formal instruction and practice in setting up proportions continued with the student showing very good progress. He remembers how to divide both sides of an equation to isolate the variable. Percent was reviewed as part divided by total times 100. Strategies presented include drawing and labeling, using calculator together with mental checking, write everything before using calculator and write neatly. The student showed excellent understanding of reducing fractions, circle area, pyramid volume, simple interest, straight angles and algebraic thinking. Finally, the student learned the new concept "like terms" and how they are added and multiplied within the context of perimeter and area problems. He scored 97% on the Practice test. The student presents as happy, confident and motivated.

During today's session we reviewed an exam the student had taken earlier today and then worked on her homework assignment. The student didn't understand the material on the homework assignment so I first explained the concept and then used the homework problems as practice.

I worked through some homework on finding side lengths of similar triangles. I taught a new, more efficient and more consistent way to simplify square root, which she picked up quickly and it stopped her from making some of the mistakes she'd made on previous homework.

I covered with the student an Algebra 2 review packet. The concepts covered were: simplifying radical expressions, solving radical equations, solving and graphing exponential and logarithmic functions.

The student is currently in the middle of taking standardized testing at school, so we reviewed old content that he is uncomfortable with so he can tackle them with confidence on the math portion of his tests. We mainly covered polygons and geometric figures, practicing identifying regular shapes, solving for angles and side lengths, and calculating perimeter. As with other sessions, we stressed his application of showing work. To maintain his interest with the subject, I gave him more challenging problems to work on. Ironically, he better on some of the more challenging problems that require his focus and attention, rather than on some simpler problems.

The student and I reviewed her assignments for her online math course. She worked on algebra problems, which included exponents and radicals. We also went over a few geometry applications, including midpoint and distance formulas. She seems to have a good grasp on the concepts, but definitely benefits from having someone to talk through the problems. She is planning on taking the first test of the course this evening, and we will meet later this week to continue with the course.