And he pulls out a 92 on his 8th grade algebra test on quadratics!! Yay!! Had me worried: during our tutoring session, the student was not taking up information as usual and did not seem to get the material — he was tired and needed some sleep. After a good night sleep, he was sharp […]
Read MoreAnother Good One
“Also, she just called me & said she made a 92 on her math test that she took right before spring break. :)) I’m very happy for her. THANK YOU! It would NOT be possible without your support!!!! I don’t know what she’s going to do at college!!!” –Melissa S (parent)
Read MoreGood job!!
A student I tutor earned an 81 on a geometry quiz and a 100 on another. (She goes to a good private school.) Good for her!!! Congrats!!!
Read MoreCompliments
Yesterday I heard two (or was it three? I hear such things so much, I tune it out a little — but still really appreciate it!!) people say I explain math better and make it easier than other teachers. Nice. Not to be conceited or irrational about it all: there are people who can explain […]
Read MoreMore Student Successes
This week, I learned that a student I tutor earned a 95 on an algebra 2 test (on some conic sections) — that’s good, for her public school teacher is hard! Some of the work the teacher gives these students I have not seen before. Another student received an 85 on his college calculus test […]
Read MoreStudent Successes
Last week, I learned that student I tutor made a 96 on his recent algebra 2 test; he goes to a good private school. Another student, at a public school, made an 86 on her recent algebra 1 test and a 91 on her biology test; I help a little bit on the biology, mainly […]
Read MoreCongrats!
A student I tutor received a 94 on her algebra 2 midterm at one of the top private schools in Houston. Her first ever A in a math final/midterm. Congrats! Partly my help — but partly her hard work and intelligence, and partly the teacher and the amount of rigor being demanded by the teacher […]
Read MoreTeaching Exponents
Someone recently asked what a zero exponent would mean in the real world. Here is my basic response. The important method of research is to ask and answer questions, and the important questions to ask are “how did we get the concept?” and “what does it mean?” We should look for things in the world […]
Read MoreTeaching Writing: Two Recent Tutoring Sessions
Recently, I helped an eighth-grade student with an English paper. (We work mostly on math, but work also on grammar, writing, and whatever else comes up.) The paper was a short fictional story. We had two fun, valuable sessions working on writing skills and thinking skills. We talked first about the big picture, about some […]
Read MoreSuccess = Loss?
Some students I tutor are doing so well in school –- getting 98s, 99s, and other As in math and chemistry — that they canceled tutoring for this week! Congrats on the good grades!! Understandable to cancel, but not a good idea, I think. Getting good grades would be a good measure of education and […]
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