Private Math tutoring

It is important to do a lot of research before choosing a math tutor for your child.  There are a lot of math tutors out there, and the good ones are few and far between.  The most important factor in a successful math tutoring relationship is the unique personality click or chemistry between your child and the math tutor.  A confident math tutor should offer a trial lesson to see if it's a good fit.  You should plan ahead and do as many trial lessons as possible ahead of time.  It's worth it to put this effort in early, you don't want to find out you picked the wrong math tutor for your child mid-semester.

The best place to start when looking for a math tutor for your child is asking your friends with kids if they have a math tutor they can recommend.  That way they have already done the vetting for you.  Make sure their child gained a noticeable improvement in grades, confidence, and engagement.  However, keep in mind that a good match for one child is not necessarily a good match for your child.  That's why the trial math tutoring sessions are so important.

Finally, you should check all of the major review sites such as Yelp and Google Reviews to see if your math tutor has a good track record.  An established math tutor in your community should have multiple 5-star reviews. 

Finding the right math tutor for your child is a lot of work, but it's worth it!  Once you find the math tutor that really clicks with your child, you will be amazed by the results they achieve together.

Alexander Math & Physics Tutoring can definitely help you with your math on every level!  We go much deeper than simple homework help; we identify the root of your problem.  We then build a mathematical foundation to last a lifetime.

Mathematical thinking helps your brain make new synaptic connections.  Working through math problems forces your brain to work in ways it's never had to before.  This prompts the brain to develop neurological pathways to accommodate the deeper logic.

Therefore it's important that children start learning mathematics as early as possible when the brain is still developing at a high rate.  The great thing about math is there is always a harder problem, no matter what phase you are in.  Math is a vehicle to continuously challenge yourself and deepen your capacity for logic.  

In order to tutor math, you must first become an expert in mathematics.   You might think because you are good at algebra, that you can tutor algebra.  But this is not true, you must be far advanced of your student in math in order to tutor them effectively.  You must be familiar with the common math pitfalls that cause students trouble.

In order to effectively tutor math, you should have a degree in mathematics, engineering, or physics.  You should then get as much math teaching experience as possible.  Many great math tutors were first jr. high or high school math teachers.  

Finally, a great math tutor must be able to connect with their student and have compassion for what it's like to learn math for the first time.  The math tutor should remember what it's like to struggle in math.

In order to tutor elementary math, you must have the ability to connect with young children and understand the math milestones they need to accomplish.  This is important because everything you do in elementary math will determine the students' performance in later math classes.  The elementary math tutor should be well versed in mathematics, even though the concepts are simple.  Explaining concepts in a simple, understandable way requires a certain depth of knowledge.

Elementary math consists mostly of pre-algebra.  However the elementary math tutor should be well versed in algebra as well, so they understand how the pre-algebra concepts evolve into algebra.

The first thing you should do to find a math tutor near you is ask all your friends with kids if they have a math tutor that has worked well for them.  That way they can do the vetting for you.  Keep in mind that just because the math tutor was a good fit for someone else's child, does not necessarily mean they will be a good fit for you or your child.  Therefore you should take extra steps in your research process.

Next look at all the major review sites such as Yelp and Google Reviews to see if your tutor of choice has a profile.  An experienced math tutor near you should have a profile with lots of 5-star reviews.

Finally, see if the math tutor will allow you to take a trial lesson to see if it's a good fit.  The only way to know for sure if the math tutor is a good fit for you or your child is to try a lesson and see if your personalities mesh.