Certified Tutors From McPherson College

The student and I met from 2:30 to 4:30. We discussed reflections and rotations of geometric figures. We reviewed the problems on one worksheet and then started working on the MOGEA practice test. He and I focused on visualizing math and discussed confidence. We worked a few word problems and discussed strategy for word problems and started a Math-English dictionary. Good session.

The student is gearing for her last exam in her math class and to prepare for this she has been given a big math packet reviewing the entire semester's material (though this last test is not a cumulative final exam). The packet began with a review of the order of operations, multiplication/division/addition/subtraction of integers (positive and negative) with fractions and mixed numbers and a review of roots/squares/cube roots/cubes. As always, with numerically presented problems she has very, very little difficulty and solves everything with great ease, making only very occasional minor mistakes. The main point of review today was recovering our old, tried-and-true method for approaching word problems to break down why they pose such a challenge and how to mitigate this. In short, the goal is to filter the important information and record it to increase the density of information and remove the "fluff" that word problems almost universally provide. We want to take word problems in a step-by-step approach, looking at each sentence individually and recording all the pertinent information that we can. If we are working with an unknown, we want to clearly label a variable to represent it, and take what pertinent information we have recorded to write things in terms of our variable. We were able to work through the first couple of word problems in her packet.

In the tutoring session, I went over an Algebra 2 packet with the student. We covered solving equations, inequalities, absolute values, relations, functions, composition of functions, graphing, domain and range. Over all, I think his problem was that he did not remember the topics. Once he knew what to do, he was able to effectively answer the problems. He seemed focused on wanting to cover as much as possible in the time frame that we had. Since this was a one time kind of session, I gave him some tips on remembering the topics we covered.

Today we worked on an essay she had to work on. I helped her getting a structure and doing it right in French.

The student and I reviewed her geometry homework in our time together. In addition to this homework we went over some formulas and tricks regarding rectangles, squares, and triangle including Pythagorean theorem.

We went through the student's exam review. We solved several questions on chemical equations, oxidation numbers, mass%, percent yield, solubility, redox reactions, mole calculations, and balancing equations. I explained the concept as well as how she has to use the given information to answer each question. She is doing well.