Scott

Certified Tutor

"Those that know, do. Those that understand, teach."
-Aristotle

For the last seven years it has been my pleasure to work through Varsity Tutors helping middle and high school students gain confidence and improve their grades in math classes.

Math is a difficult subject for many, but in the end it is just adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. The complicated part comes in knowing when and where to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Unfortunately, many teachers can be too complex in their explanations of these math rules. Knowledge should not be esoteric, the secret domain of only the greatest minds. It should be accessible to all.

I am able to break down math concepts from Basic and Advanced Algebra to Geometry and Pre-Calculus, giving students a firm foundation so they are able to fully understand the material. There are often many different ways to tackle and solve a math problem. I show as many of these different methods as I can so the student may choose which method works best for him/herself.

I also try to give students an appreciation for the subject. Math is everywhere, and I often relate it to a student's hobbies and interests. For those who are artistically inclined, I discuss the nature of light and color, how the Greeks and others used the Golden Ratio to create some of history's greatest art and architecture, and how music can be translated into mathematics. For sports fans, I break down the statistics of teams and players to show how math is important even in that area. No matter where we turn, math is there.

And although I utilize a variety of media in lesson materials including worksheets, pics, memes, and textbooks, my most important assets are my calm demeanor and sense of humor. I am a firm believer in using humor as a teaching aide. Too often, students take on an enormous amount of stress, and humor can help relax and stimulate people, keeping them refreshed. Education can be difficult, but it should be fun. We all remember the awkwardness of being a teenager and the stress that school can place on us. I help alleviate that discomfort thus making the student more receptive to learning. This in turn gives the students confidence which is key in improving grades. I have been very successful in helping students raise their grades by at least 20 points, turning failing students into C and B students, and D and C students into B and A students.

Beyond just course material, I try to impart any wisdom about the schooling process in general to each student. Teenagers often feel as if they are left in the dark about the adult world. Sometimes they see us as another species. I converse with each student with the same amount of respect and understanding that I use when dealing with an adult. When they are being "spoken with" instead of "talked at," this makes the student more open to listening and keeping them engaged.

I try to teach them the things I wish I knew about school when I was their age. Letting the student into this wisdom helps them feel better about their own academic potential. It gives them a greater understanding of how to not only improve their grades, but also improve their attitude about schooling in general. I give them information on the psychology of the classroom and other seemingly unrelated subjects in order to open their minds up beyond rote material. This helps greatly with restoring a student's confidence and maintaining a love of learning.

As far as my personal credentials, I am a Magna cum Laude graduate of Boston University where I studied film and Shakespeare. I love to share my appreciation of movies and literature with others and have found knowledge of popular culture is a great bridge to students. Since I graduated, I found that one never stops learning, as I continue to read a variety of subjects from history and science, to mythology and philosophy.

I have tutored many subjects including math, science, English literature and writing, and history. In addition, I have aided students in improving their writing skills, note taking ability, and organization. I believe good grades are attainable by all. It comes down to identifying how each student learns and applying different techniques to each individual in order to maintain maximum understanding and retention. That is the strength of individual tutoring. That is the type of teaching that I love.