St. Mary's County Tutoring

I tutor middle and high school students by Skype or Zoom. I teach middle school math and Algebra 1. For most students willing to put in 2 hours outside of class for every one hour of instruction, I can cover a year of Algebra by teaching 2 sessions a week for 3 months. $40 an hour. The first lesson is free. I have found some students that are capable of covering that much material and passing a common core Algebra exam with a 90% or better score with just 1 lesson a week.

I use Saxon Math Middle School Assessment for starters: https://www.sonlight.com/homeschool/curriculum/placement-tests/saxon-placement-tests/

This gives me a pretty good idea of you child's abilities.

After that, I use a variety of online resources, most notably: Kuta Software Algebra worksheets: https://www.kutasoftware.com/freeipa.html

Purple Math: https://www.mathhelp.com/pre-algebra-help/?utm_campaign=purplemath&utm_source=_mh_palg&utm_medium=course

And, Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/math.

Peterson's "Master the Catholic HS Entrance Exams is also a very valuable resource. https://www.target.com/p/master-the-catholic-high-school-entrance-exams-2021-25th-edition-by-peterson-s-paperback/-/A-79428454?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&CPNG=PLA_Entertainment%2BShopping&adgroup=SC_Entertainment&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9007687&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1248099&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1oeo3czo6wIViuazCh2BIgIyEAQYASABEgLIOfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

The Kuta Software worksheets are brilliant because they introduce mathematical concepts in a logical order. I first taught Algebra at St. Matthias School in Lanham, MD in 1979.

I require kids to keep a notebook with terms and procedures. Every time we come across a concept that your child doesn't know, it goes into the notebook. Fractions to decimals - divide the top by the bottom. I also require kids to spread out their work - not to have it all scrunched up. I want to see every step. You know, the way you have to catch a puppy in the act..

Don't allow your child to fall too far behind. If an 8th grader hasn't learned his times tables, it doesn't mean he can't master Algebra. Put a calculator in his hands!

The assessment and the first lesson are free. If your child hates my guts, at least we tried. lol. Pat Elder [email protected]

email me: [email protected]