
Samuel
Certified Tutor
I consider myself to be a pioneer educator of all levels of mathematics. After completing my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics at University of Maryland, College Park, I dedicated my life to math education by earning a Master of Education in Secondary Education at the same university and completed my student teaching credentials at Montgomery Blair High School near Washington, DC. Furthermore, as a good teacher is also a good student, I am pursuing a Master of Science degree in Applied Mathematics at Towson University. I have over 6 years of experience teaching students from many different backgrounds. At the High School level, I have taught Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Consumer Mathematics, & AP Calculus. At the Community College level, I have taught Developmental Mathematics & Introductory Statistics.
I love tutoring all math courses as they are all interconnected in the greater scheme of analytical thinking. When tutoring, I ask students for their goals in the course, whether they are an art student needing a math credit, or an engineering student who needs to prepare for further courses in the future, I am prepared to help students with their goals. Furthermore, I always review the basics that form the foundation of a math topic as just a little explanation of a previous topic will engage students with the problem at hand.
My primary interests outside of mathematics are globetrotting and movies. I love meeting new people and seeing new sights. I usually try to do satisfy my wanderlust by travelling to new cities and countries. So far, I have visited at least 24 countries and hope to see many more. I am currently living in Budapest and loving every minute of the experience. However, sometimes a good movie can send me to far away lands that I have yet to see. I therefore love watching independent and science fiction movies.
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Maryland-College Park - Bachelors, Mathematics & Physics
Graduate Degree: University of Maryland-College Park - Masters, Mathematics Education
Globetrotting & Movies
- ACCUPLACER College-Level Math
- ACCUPLACER Elementary Algebra
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- Algebra 3/4
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Calculus BC
- AP Statistics
- Calculus
- College Algebra
- Geometry
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Pre-Algebra
- Pre-Calculus
- PSAT Prep
- SAT Prep
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Reading
- Statistics
- Test Prep
What is your teaching philosophy?
I encourage students to persevere in solving challenging problems. Sometimes a little patience is all someone needs to understand the answer.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I first try to understand the goals of the student. Whether they need help with homework or they are studying for a test will impact how I will tutor them in future sessions.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I allow students to just do their best on a sample problem. Then, I am able to address the exact point where the student is not able to find the solution.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I take short breaks where we talk about interests other than the subject we are studying.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I go right back to the basics so that the student can feel a little success. Sometimes feeling a little success is all that is needed to understand more advanced material.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I break down the words and phrases into smaller pieces and discuss each piece.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I often go back to the basics. I am then able to see whether there is earlier material they are struggling with. Also, feeling a little success always helps.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I try to find applications that relate to them. If they enjoy baseball, I try to relate the material to baseball.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I always allow the student to do a sample problem so we both know the student understands the material.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I have students complete a short assessment on the basics so that they start feeling success.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I ask the student what their goals are for the session.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
I adjust the difficulty and quantity of my sample problems until I find what works for the student.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I love referencing Wolfram Alpha as the program often gives step by step instructions on how to solve the problem.