North Shore Tutoring

Apparently I'm not posting enough!
Too busy teaching I guess.

Be it a private or public school, what matters most is the teacher at the front of the room. If they aren't competent, the course is going to be a struggle for many. A private tutor, if they're any good, will personalize the sessions for the student next to them. Catering to their individual, specific needs. Thus making up for what wasn't taught well in the classroom.
Also, the tutor needs to be proficient in math levels beyond where the student is currently studying. Math doesn't change, but what is taught at different years is constantly evolving. So the content during any given year could be different from the previous year.
Adjusting content is how the administration may validate their existence!

Till next time!

Same bike, same rider, different mountains and no garbage cans! Happy Easter all!

And when you're really, really tired of rain. There's other things to do.

If your student is hesitant about getting outside help with any course, suggest they "try" the tutor for a few weeks and then they can decide if they wish to continue.
Even though they definitely may need the help in your mind, if they are not consulted and ultimately didn't agree to get help, it won't go well if you have someone show up. The tutor, regardless of how good he/she is won't be returning, and that bridge will have been burned.
The first question I always ask is; "Does your teenager want help?" If the response is "No" or "I've yet to discuss it", I suggest getting them on board first, and then to reach back out so we can set something up.
I have found that empowering them in the decision process will always lead to better results in the end!

I just started working with a boy in grade 8 who's math foundation from elementary is very weak. The French elementary school he attended in NV failed to adequately prepare him for the jump to High School. In my opinion, the grade 7 to grade 8 transition in math is the toughest one. Please do extra work in grade 7 with your child in math to help prepare them for the next level. The singular most important concept in math to leave the elementary level with is knowing your times tables. It would also help if the school/teachers adequately prepared their students in other basic areas in this discipline.

Thanks to Ahram for pointing out the garbage cans in my picture! He always has my back. Haha

Things you do in BC when it's 14°C!

Hello!
Apparently I don't exist if I don't post! I'm still here! Teaching away.
Lol

Hello everyone.
The January 14th posts explain much about me and what I do. Please take a moment to check them out and reach out if you have any questions. Consultations are always free! Cheers.

Are you looking for help in math or science? Then this is the place to be!
I teach all math courses up to 2nd year university, science 10, and regular physics or chemistry 11.

My philosophy.

Private tutoring can be used in many different ways.

To increase grades, as an insurance policy to help maintain current grade levels, to teach entire courses via on-line instruction, or used to assist with courses presented in some other way that differs from traditional learning styles.

Whichever way a student has chosen to attempt a course, I have been very successful in helping them complete it in a timely fashion, with marks that they can be proud of.

My philosophy when it comes to tutoring is really quite simple.

The lessons, approach, and teaching style I use are all geared towards and adjusted frequently to meet the ever changing needs of the individual that I have been entrusted to help.

I use no formal testing per say at the start to discover where a students weaknesses are.
Instead, I work intuitively from what they tell me along with utilizing all of the information I can gather from family, teachers, past written assessments and assignments.

I then take this information and immediately move forward with instruction geared specifically towards the student.

This instruction takes the form of homework support or the re-teaching of missed or unclear concepts.
I will not move forward from a concept until it has been clearly understood and its intricacies demonstrated by my student.

On an ongoing basis, I will create supplemental notes and questions for the student to use to solidify the concepts and ideas they are learning.

Each student is always treated with respect and also as if they are the only one that I have.
Whatever is needed I will provide, including the paper and pencils to write with!

In my opinion, there is no point in working on past material unless there is a direct correlation between it and the material currently being taught.
All weak subject areas will eventually be explored and strengthened since a final exam will usually cover all that has been taught within the course.
This review work is usually accomplished during sessions just before mid-term or final exams.

I build confidence in the topics through the use of humor and straight talk, in a comfortable learning environment, always in their home or at a location best suited to their situation.

I have worked with hundreds of students with ages ranging from 5 to 65 and have had great success with students of all cultures including those with learning disabilities ranging from mild to extreme.

My sessions are usually given in the afternoon or evenings after school.
They can also take place during the day or on weekends if necessary and are typically 1 hour in duration.

It is rare that I would need to see a student more than once a week to keep stay on top of a subject.
Extra lessons in the first few weeks may be recommended to get their knowledge base up to speed and have them comfortable with the current material.

Instruction for on-line courses need a minimum of two sessions each week to cover the course content adequately.
This may vary depending on course complexity, speed of comprehension and targeted end dates.

I am often asked; "Why do we have to do Math!?"
"Because you are in school right now and this is what is required of you." is an answer that students usually don't like to hear.

A more in-depth answer to that question is this;

In my opinion, most of the Math many of us will ever need in life will have been learned by the fourth grade. Basic day to day activities need only rudimentary Mathematical skills.
Careers such as Engineering Biochemistry or Medicine obviously need higher levels of Mathematics due to their intricacy and complexity.

Mathematics is a part of the foundations of so much more in our lives than we think.

Math is used as a vehicle to help people learn how think linearly, sequentially and logically. It increases in its complexity in very small steps as one progresses through the grades. Grade 12 Math is not hard per say, it just may take 8-10 steps to solve a problem where as a grade 8 question would require 2-3 steps. Each step is relatively straight forward unto itself, but make a mistake on any one, and ultimately the final answer will be incorrect. It is the slow, methodical strengthening of these problem solving techniques through the grades and the ability to stay focused on the question at hand that will bring the student ultimately to a higher level of understanding and comprehension and thus able to solve more complex problems presented to him or her in life.

This linear and sequential thinking instilled in learning Mathematics helps in the ability to understand how formulas work and how data is entered into them. One doesn't have to know how to build the formulas used in Business, Finance or Accounting but you have to be able to figure out where the numbers go or if the final answer makes any logical sense!

Many of the problems solved in the higher levels of Mathematics will never be seen again in life by most people. But the processes learned and the problem solving techniques mastered, along with the ability to take apart, analyze and ultimately understand them will be used in a myriad of ways and in different applications again and again over ones lifetime without even noticing!

I have been a math and science tutor in North and West Vancouver for close to 28 years and I have over 30,000 hours of experience in this profession.
Not a shabby career if I do say so myself!
Lol