Michael: Downey tutor
Certified Tutor
I want to help students gain an enthusiasm, interest, and increased understanding in mathematics. I want them to develop problem solving skills that could help them in their careers and enrich their lives. I have used mathematics my entire career and am aware of it's applications in so many areas from finance to engineering and science. If I can help a student either get past a problem in understanding a concept or solving a problem, or motivate them to appreciate mathematics I would be very satisfied.
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Undergraduate Degree: Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute - Bachelors, Math
Graduate Degree: University of Connecticut - Masters, Math
- SAT Math: 707
Sports fan, Bob Dylan Music, Reading old science texts, Computers & Electronics.
- AP Computer Science Principles
- Basic Computer Literacy
- C
- Calculus
- Calculus 2
- Calculus 3
- Computer Architecture
- Differential Equations
- Math
- MATLAB
- Technology and Coding
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Assess student's needs and skills, and find out what they want us to achieve working together. Get background on what is happening in their classroom and determine how I can best help. Are they looking for enrichment, advanced learning or getting past something they are having trouble with (or any combination)? I would definitely review problems they have been working in class and provide some additional examples. I would hopefully be able to impart some additional insights/understandings that would help the student "see" how to attack the problem and succeed in doing it.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Encouragement, and providing problems that start out easier and doable, progressing to increased complexity. Start out with lots of support (work together) until I am no longer needed and the student can work independently on them.