ABOUT ME

INTRODUCTION: 

Thanks to one gifted math teacher, mathematics became my favorite subject in ninth grade. Up to that point, I had struggled to stay abreast. This teacher had a way of simplifying concepts and using colors to help me see how one topic created a bridge to the next.  She ignited my love for math. 

Since my sophomore year of college, I have tutored math. Starting that business was my way of earning extra cash. After receiving my bachelor’s in applied mathematics from the University of Southern Mississippi, I earned a master's in Secondary Mathematics Education at Mississippi State University. In addition to tutoring, I worked on various programs at both universities to provide outreach and support to students and teachers. After graduation, I taught public high school math before being “promoted” to the home educator of my three children, K-12. Since then, my children have earned their way through college via academic scholarships covering up to 170% of their educational expenses. 

TUTORING SUBJECTS:

Eighth-grade math, pre-algebra, algebra 1, algebra 2, intermediate college algebra, college algebra, ACT math, SAT math, ASVAB math, and ACCUPLACER math. 

(Inquire about other academic math courses or standardized tests.)

TUTORING AGES: 

Middle school, high school, college, and adult learners. 

TUTORING STYLE:

I observe and follow the student's natural inclination during initial interactions and sessions. I also build rapport by asking questions and encouraging detailed responses. I will use responses that reveal the student's interests as examples during our sessions. I prefer to ask students how they would choose to work on math problems because there are so many correct ways. Following the student's natural inclinations or methods learned in class are sometimes more comfortable and profitable for the student. It also encourages them to know they are not entirely lost. I strive to make my students feel heard and respected for their ideas and preferences. 

After I have supplied explanations and examples, I encourage students to write on the whiteboard and explain throughout the session to help me gauge their understanding. I sometimes joke to keep the atmosphere comfortable, especially if I have made a mistake. I want the student to realize that, although this is a serious subject, we can enjoy the process. I provide encouraging feedback that motivates the student to remember the proper steps. When the student moves toward the correct solution, I use emojis, sound effects, verbal praise, etc. I will let the student know that I knew they could succeed. 

I also use different colors as I write to further understanding and to help keep the sessions livelier. Onscreen, different graphing devices (like Desmos and TI-84 graphing calculator) also help in that regard. 

SUCCESS STORY: 

A high school student I tutored through all his academic math classes did not test well on standardized tests, although he earned straight A’s in school. Rather than take remedial math classes in college, we decided that he should take the ACCUPLACER math exam at his college. We worked for several weeks learning what to expect on the exam and practicing concepts. He was weary of all the testing but knew he had the knowledge base to take at least college algebra. On the day of the examination, when he turned in the completed exam to the proctor, he asked for the next section of the test. The proctor told him he had finished it all. He told me he never got to any complex problems on the test, so he thought there was another section! This student exceeded the ACCUPLACER score he needed to test for college algebra. That semester at his college, he was one of the top students in the course. The rapport we had established through tutoring allowed him to trust my educational expertise to help him succeed more efficiently.

FEW OF MY HOBBIES AND INTERESTS:

Vegetable & Herb Gardening

High-Intensity Interval Training

Yoga

Taekwondo

Biblical History & Ethics

Alternative Health

DIY Beauty Products