Steven: Quincy tutor

Certified Tutor

I graduated in 2019 from University of Washington with a double Bachelor's in Mathematics and Economics with honors and multiple scholarships. Previously I studied musical composition at Berklee College of Music. My uncommon educational path allowed me to develop a unique understanding of the learning process. In fact, when I enrolled in my first college calculus class, it had been years since I had done much more math than basic arithmetic! I knew I faced a daunting challenge and that I would need to develop a highly effective learning method if I were to succeed. That's when I implemented a simple yet powerful learning tool: Breaking down difficult problems to basic mathematical definitions. Often when students struggle, it's because either their instructors or textbooks make too many assumptions about what the student remembers from previous courses or overestimate how challenging some basic idea can be. By breaking down problems, focusing on sharpening fundamentals and implementing some of my own organizational tools, I found a method that works to overcome even the most difficult problems. To my surprise, at the end of my first college math course, I not only survived but was getting the top scores on exams!

I began to help my fellow students to understand challenging concepts and ace difficult exams by teaching them my studying and organizational methods. During this time, I gained a passion not only for math, but for teaching and understanding the learning process itself! In the last 3 years I have been teaching students to use my learning methods in on-on-one tutoring sessions.

My students have found that when they apply my personalized, systematic learning methodology, the frustrations that can come with doing math fade. With the right learning approach students can see that math is interesting and fun! In our tutoring sessions you will learn: How to systematically break down problems into definitions and prerequisite skills; organizational and study techniques that allow you to identify, track and memorize everything you need to succeed, customized to your personal learning style; and how to diagnose gaps in prerequisite math skills, which could be holding you back from truly understanding the material. I will provide custom tailored exercises which will eliminate any weaknesses and allow your mathematical understanding to grow. These skills will allow you to build a personalized learning method that will pave the way to success in both current and future courses and tests.

I am committed to the success of my students and to empowering them by making their learning methods both fun and highly effective.