"[The twins] did well on [their geometry final]. Got 90+."
Mythili R, parent of high school student,
"'Use logic in math' is my motto."
Sophia S, high school (I love that quote.),
"On my geometry quiz I got a 98% and it went really well and I felt I knew the info. Thank you for all the help and for assisting me when I did not understand something."
Casey C, high school student,
"He went through his theorems, explained how any number to the power of 0 is actually 1, and then demonstrated how you taught him to work with polynomials vs. how his book taught him. Shall we say he likes your way better? He has read through everything you gave him plus tackled the homework........you've really lit a fire under him."
Helen G, parent of middle school student,
"Thank you, Michael. He is gaining some confidence in what he does know and quickly admitting what he needs to work on. I am very happy with this method."
Cathy L, parent of high school student,
"When Colby got in the van today I asked, How was Class? He replied, 'That was awesome.' so...thanks!"
Mary H, parent of high school student,
"At school we just memorize and repeat stuff back; you teach me to understand."
John T, high school student,
"If math was explained to me like this, I would have understood it a long time ago!"
Brooke Z, high school student,
"My average is actually a 96 right now and I made a 94 on the last quiz. We're still doing conics."
Kevin B, high school student,
"Oh! I just found out I made a 93 on the [AP Statistics] project-YAY!"
Taylor R, high school student,
"All of my son's grades have gone up [not just his math grades]."
Tom T, parent of high school student,
"Why didn't [so-and-so test prep company] ever tell me this??"
Brian C, high school student,
"Gifted kids are truly 'special needs' kids, as much as children on the other end of the spectrum. It is challenging to parent a kid like this but we muddle through somehow!!! I'm so pleased that we found you because you can challenge him in ways that I simply can't. I'm excited to see where he goes under your tutorage. :)"
Helen G, parent of middle school student,
"You are doing an awesome job with how you handle him. I love the way you explain things to him. You are very kind and patient. Thank you."
Vicki W, parent middle school student,
"I just wanted to say hi and thanks for your help with Physics! This fall I am either going to take Calculus 1 over again or take Calc 2. ... Either way I am sure you'll be hearing from me."
Casey L, college student,
"Thank you. Without you, my son would not have gotten a B. I don't know what we would have done."
Marshall B, parent of high school students,
"You clearly love what you do and are good at it. It comes through."
Rob S, MBA student,
"I wanted to thank you for all the help you've given Zach. ... [Next year at college] he will be taking calculus. So, you probably will have to be tutoring him or hopefully will tutor him in the fall. Thanks for all your help this past year. Zach would not have passed precalculus at all or done near as well on his SAT or ACT test without your help."
Cindy Q, parent of high school student,
"I learn more from you in one hour than I do from school in a month."
John T, high school student,
"With Mr. Gold's help I managed to get a golden SAT score!!! My SAT score increased from a 1630 to a 1970!"
Tia Z, high school student,
"Michael are you ready: important Maths quiz score 81 and less important quizlet 100!!!! Yeah!!"
Corinna C, parent of high school student,
"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 of high school student,
"Had a microbiology midterm this morning. On the exam there was a bacterial growth problem that required a little bit of math to determine the answer. I could not for the life of me recall the equation we were told to use...luckily I was able to reason out the equation using some logarithm rules (which I can't believe I remembered lol).
"Who knew you could use reason and math(?!?!?) to answer a science-concept question. Here I thought science was just about the memorization and regurgitation of knowledge. Glad I had someone to teach me how to think!"
Rajiv R, ex-student,
"Jack made a 100 on his major test today!!!!! He is so proud! Thanks so much!!!"
Joy R, parent of high school student,
"Mike, thank you so much for this birthday gift. I have been super busy trying to establish a career in entertainment while finishing up my degree. You have had a profound impact on my life approach and philosophy. Your teachings of self-reliance, true freedom and accountability have helped me become a more disciplined and well rounded person. Thank you so much for thinking of me on my birthday this year it means a lot."
John T, former high school and college student,
"Kyle had a positive response as well. It was hard to convince him to agree to do this tutoring session. He said [WebEx] was very hands on and elaborate. He's willing to do next week's session." (Kyle was thinking that online tutoring would be frustrating and a waste of time.)
Donna G, mother of high school student,
"I agree with you 100%. [Madison] has gone from a D/C student to a B/A student. She is knocking it out of the park right now, not just by getting the work done but by also doing it correctly. It is nice to have her as a student I can rely on to do her work and know how to do it. I know that she has tried to share her story with others to encourage them to just try and do their work, that Algebra is not as hard as they are making it out to be and I appreciate that.
I hope she finishes up the year strong."
Mr. M, high school teacher of Madison S; quote from emailed note from teacher to parent,
"Jack made an 87 on his test. That's his highest test grade yet in pre AP chemistry! We are thrilled! Thank you!"
Joy R, parent of high school student,
"You are the best tutor who gets the best result Matt has worked with. Thank you again."
Dennis P, father of a high school student,
"You Sir, are a miracle worker.... Can't believe Tay got an 83 on Calc test!!! Thank you SO much!"
Adrienne W, mother of a college student,
"Mr. Gold I have to say without a doubt you are the smartest teacher I have ever met."
Alec K, high school student,
“I used to go to some Exam Reviews where a guy would just spend hours teaching you a bunch of tricks to help you barely get by in your classes. People would spend a bunch of money on these classes and still end up doing poorly in their classes. When I talked to students who did well in the same classes, they all really understood the material. When I did what these students did (spent more time reading the textbook, practicing problems, etc.), I would perform much better in my classes. My grades shot up. And Mr. Gold was an important part of my program to understand." (He was a student I worked with for years who went off to college out of town. He found he needed to come back to town sometimes to get some good quality help.)
Rajiv R, former high school student ,
"Thanks for the [SAT] class - it was incredibly helpful and good practice."
Jessica P, high school student,
"Thank you again for your efforts and wonderful tutoring for both the SAT and ACT prep classes. I think the benefits reach far beyond good scores on standardized tests. I believe the skills you teach and emphasize have a tremendous impact on our kiddos critical thinking as well. You are greatly appreciated by our family!"
Michelle F, mother of high school student,
"Thank you so much for giving your time to teach the ACT and SAT prep classes. I really appreciate it, and I believe that it helped me greatly in taking the tests. I am very happy with my scores."
Courtney F, high school student,
"I wanted to thank you again for the ACT prep class. I got a 30 on the ACT on my first try. Your classes really prepared me - there's no way I could have gotten that without your help. So THANK YOU!"
Jessica P, high school student,
"I really did learn more than geometry and math taking classes with you. I learned to reason and use logic to start solving things in everyday life. It’s pretty useful at work when I use reasoning to find root causes, and to find and fix problems. You teach people how to THINK!"
Dylan T, ex-high school student now in his 20s,
I passed my welding engineer course after three years of studying on my own and applying the basic principles you instilled in me. I am now a certified Apprentice Welding Inspector recognized by the American Welding Society.
The skills you taught me allow me to outperform even on tests that are initially of an unfamiliar subject matter just due to the logic and the testing rules you taught me years ago.
Thank you!
Jimi T,
I passed my welding engineer course after three years of studying on my own and applying the basic principles you instilled in me. I am now a certified Apprentice Welding Inspector recognized by the American Welding Society.
The skills you taught me allow me to outperform even on tests that are initially of an unfamiliar subject matter just due to the logic and the testing rules you taught me years ago.
Thank you!
Jimi T (ex student),
I hope more kids go to you for tutoring; you made me enjoy learning again.
Jacob L, ex-student,
You're one heck of a tutor. College is a lot easier due to the way you taught me how to think.
Josh P, ex-student,
"Michael Gold is an awesome trainer. His workouts are designed to improve all elements of fitness: coordination, strength, stamina, mobility, just to name a few.
"Back in college I did a year of CrossFit and later on went through weight lifting programs with trainers at my gym. Michael has definitely been #1 when it came to proper form and joint/ligament strengthening.
"I trained with Michael for about 7 months and I saw huge improvements in my endurance and fitness. I felt better overall and even had some surprising benefits.
"I now effortlessly make baskets when throwing paper into my garbage bin, whereas, before working with Michael, I would always miss. And I am now much more aware of my environment, which especially helps when driving.
"He is big on safety and makes sure he trains to match people's fitness levels whatever they may be.
"I would definitely recommend him to anyone trying to improve their fitness and well-being in whatever capacity."
Joseph S,
"Exercising in the woods with Michael has benefited me more than any other type of workout that I have done with any trainer. The more I work out with Michael, the more I learn about my physical/mental strengths and weaknesses, and about nutrition for athletic performance and good health.
"Ultimately, strengthening and conditioning is my goal. I enjoy the natural movements and the unlimited amount of exercises that Michael routinely exhibits in the outdoors. Climbing trees, carrying logs and asymmetrical objects, learning to balance on uneven surfaces, and strengthening ligaments, rather than just muscles, are unique exercises Michael utilizes.
"He is more than just your typical trainer as he covers your overall well-being.
"I am a freshman on the LSU football team and can attest that Michael is an excellent strength coach, and he knows more about diet and nutrition than any other trainer I know."
Carlton S,
“Gold Academy is an experience unlike anything I was expecting. Coming from a background of physical contact sports such as hockey and football, I wanted to get myself back into form, without a florescent lighting tan, without aggravating previous injuries from the glory days. Being outside was the greatest reward, and the challenge I was looking for. Michael was with me every step of the way, building routines for with me and for me, helping me to build my body correctly and avoid injuries. This is not a boot camp for those who need someone mindlessly yelling in your face. This was an in depth structured experience, for me to be my own drill sergeant, because that is where true success lies, in becoming the best version of yourself. Starting off simply, then constantly challenging yourself to master simplicity, until your skills are your foundation. This a custom tailored experience, and I recommend Michael's expertise and logical approach. Be prepared to learn with Michael, he's a great teacher and an invaluable resource of knowledge. Be prepared to be immersed in nature. Be prepared to bring your mind, body, diet, and thinking to new levels. I recommend the Gold Academy experience for all those looking to build the best self version they achieve. Get out of the box and get involved!”
Matthew Hines, Houston Texas,
Michael expounds all that is science in such an interesting and exciting way! He always keeps my kids engaged and thinking that science is fun!
He presents science in a logical, rational, integrated way – making it easy and possible to take everything they are learning and apply it in ‘the real world’… not just a list of useless facts, but tangible, knowable, valuable life lessons.
He builds a great foundation with biology first and all the rest of the sciences following and integrating from there. Who knew that biology, physics, physical fitness, and chemistry are all related and integrated? Just take a few science classes with Michael, and you’ll see for yourself!
Whether you’re homeschooling and want to seriously upgrade your science curriculum or just want to supplement your child’s deplorably lacking public school science education. Michael will make science fun, interesting, and relevant to your kids’ lives – and yours!
Melanie H (homeschool mom of 3),
The Soul of a Horse by Joe Camp
I was beginning to understand that, in fact, we must find a way to be a horse. We shouldn’t even try to relate horse behavior and communication to human equivalents. Or even doggie equivalents. Horses are not humans. And they aren’t dogs. If you treat a Horse like a poppy, you will never be his leader. I’m not saying you shouldn’t give your horse a hug or a rub. But a dog will do virtually anything for a hug. A horse will do virtually nothing for a hug. But he will do virtually anything for his respected leader. And he will continually test that leader to see if he or she is still worthy of the title. I learned all this, and began to understand how to be a horse. I had finally found where I was to begin. I was ecstatic.
I have not read the book yet, but that whets my interest! Reminds me of some things GaWaNi PonyBoy said in his very good book Horse, Follow Closely.
“The Soul of a Horse” by Joe Camp
Simply understanding what reward is to a horse made so much difference in the way I approached the task of training.
Reward for a horse, I finally discovered, true reward, comes from release of pressure.
And with that reward comes learning. Communication. Understanding.
It’s as simple as that.
Release of the pressure.
Most trail horses know so much more than those who ride them, it’s difficult to do too much wrong. They won’t let you. They are turning, going, and stopping before you think about it so you don’t have to jerk on their mouth or kick them in the side.
The years have taught them.
But for the horse owner, there is only one place to begin.
At the beginning.
Stand in the horse’s hooves. Study His history. Understand why he is the way he is, and why he acts the way he does.
He’s a prey animal.
You mean like a rabbit??
Pretty much, yeah.
But he weighs eleven hundred pounds!!
Yep.
Discover what makes him feel safe. What keeps him healthy.
What he wants in a leader.
And why??
I am also fascinated by Monty Roberts world famous Mustang “Shy Boy” that came in from the wild!!
Title: I’m Shy Boy: Here’s My Story…
Thanks for recommending the next book; Horse, Follow Closely.
Agreed! As put in The Soul of a Horse and in Horse, Follow Closely, a horse is a horse. A is A. It has identity, and its identity determines its action and behavior. Not everyone gets that. They treat a horse as a dog, a human, a machine, a piece of furniture or trash. But that is not the horse’s identity — hence those people are out of touch with reality. And some people treat a horse as an extension of their will, which it is not; or as a slave: as a thing that should automatically and instantaneously fulfill the person’s every whim and want. Those people are subjectivist and emotionalist.
But those people all do damage to themselves and the horse.
What’s more, while the horse has identity, it is the individual that is fundamentally real, not the group. Horses are herd animals, yes, but the herd is made up of individuals with each its own unique identity, “personality,” and existence. We need to focus on each individual horse, and not treat it as an abstract “horse.” This makes us focus more on reality, too, instead of expecting a horse to fit “the horse type” — i.e., our preconceptions or hasty generalizations about horses.
And with that, on our part, goes asking and answering questions (i.e., rational thinking) as you do. Ask “why?” and “how?” Amen. Look for cause and effect relationships. Amen.
Yes, agreed, horses need “release of pressure” (a way of putting it I’ll have to think more about! thanks!). They evolved to be and roam free. They need free movement, not only or always constrained movement.
Thanks for the recommendation of I’m Shy Boy: Here’s My Story. I’ll have to order it.
Oh, GaWaNi PonyBoy has a Website, too. Unfortunately, he was in a bad motorcycle accident, and so no longer teaches seminars (last I heard, anyway). Tragic. It would be awesome to spend time talking to him about horses!! And be nice to get some training from him.
“The Soul of a Horse” by Joe Camp
Discovering the mysteries of the horse is a never ending journey, but the rewards are an elixir. The soul prospers from sharing. Caring, relaxing and fulfilling. Nothing can make you feel better than doing something good for another being. Not cars. Not houses. Not face lifts. Not blue ribbons or trophies. And there is nothing more important in life than love. Not money. Not status. Not winning.
Give the choice of choice. To your horse, or your employee, or your friend, or your loved ones. Care enough to want them healthy and happy. It will come back a hundredfold.
And always question everything. Be your own expert. Gather information and make decisions based upon knowledge and wisdom, not here say, know that if something doesn’t seem logical, it probably isn’t. If it doesn’t make sense, it probably not right.
There are many who teach relationship, riding, and training with principles of natural horsemanship. Others support benefits of good barefoot with the wild horse trim. Still others write that your horse should eat from the ground and live without clothes and covering. Go barefoot versus shoes. I was dumbfounded. It never once occurred to me that a horse was designed to stand on his own four feet, without man made shoes. When the shoe falls off, the circulation returns and suddenly the horse can feel again.
Few have put it all together into a single philosophy, a unified voice, a complete lifestyle change for the domesticated horse. When I gave Cash the Choice of Choice and he Chose ME, he left me with NO ALTERNATIVE. No longer could it be what I wanted, but rather what he needed. What fifty- five million years of genetics demanded for his long, healthy, and happy life.
I’m still astonished when I think of where Kathleen and I began such a short time a go, and where most horse owners still are today, training with dominance and cruelty, cooping up their horses in small spaces, weakening their natural immune system, feeding them unnaturally, creating unhealthy hooves and bodies with metal shoes. Those people maybe out of touch with reality and (treat a horse as an extension of their will, which is not; or as a slave; as a thing that should automatically and instantaneously fulfill the person’s every WHIM and WANT; those people are barbaric and definitely do not have a tendency to regard things Emotionally or even Subjectively, without emotions we become devoid of feelings… Without subjectivity, we would only be physical objects devoid of activity, Subjectivity reaches its highest form in humans who think, plan, remember, feel, dream, imagine, anticipate, symbolize, decide, understand, learn, and initiate action).
Yes, but, there are those who care about having a relationship with their horse, they want to get to know the horse, and who will, when confronted, continue to care about the health, happiness and need of their horse.
I hope this book will be a crack in the armor, a small breeze if not the strong winds of change, a resource for what needs to be done.
And a longer, happier, healthier life for all horses.
It would be awesome to get some training from GaWaNi PonyBoy! Maybe someday…hopefully soon. Thanks! 🙂
I’m reading the book (The Soul of a Horse) and enjoying it — except when, sitting out by the apartment-complex pool getting a tan (on my legs! my upper body is tanned nicely from horseback riding!), some stories bring tears to my eyes. Pathetic. I’m on p. 145 now.
If you get training from PonyBoy, tell me how it to goes, please!! I’d love to be able to afford to talk to him some day, but the day is not yet here. Be nice to visit with Mr. Camp some day, too. : ) Nice to know there are other people in the world who do and believe, in regard to horses, as I do!!
Oh, some other books I’d recommend are:
1. The Nature of Horses by Stephen Budiansky
(See also his The Character of Cats and The Truth About Dogs.)
Mr. Budiansky looks at animals from a scientific and evolutionary perspective — as well as from the perspective of a dog, cat, and horse owner and animal lover. Fascinating books. I have read only part of the dog book, but have read through the cat and horse books. Highly recommended. I love how he talks about the cat’s behavior being determined, in part, by its hunting and sexual strategies — which issues determine the behavior of many animals. Interesting, too, how cats are like their wild counterparts, while dogs aren’t, and that, while cats might look differently, they have the same genetic variation (2 to 3%) that is found among cats in the wild — i.e., “domestic” cats are not really different from each other as breeds of dogs are, and cats and wild cats are basically the same. In regard to horses, I enjoyed reading about the analysis of their movement in terms of physics: there are basically two forms of motion: walking and jumping; and, in some forms of locomotion, you can regard the horse leg as an inverted pendulum. There is also interesting discussion of color vision in the books.
2. Feed Your Horse Like a Horse by Dr. Juliet M. Getty
I have not read all of this book, but I like it so far!! Dr. Getty follows, as far as she knows and has integrated them (and as far as man has figured things out so far!!) the principles of evolutionary medicine and evolutionary science. Great book on horse nutrition!! She talks about treating certain conditions, what effects minerals and nutrients have, etc. Great book on nutrition!
In light of treating a horse like a horse — what about treating yourself as a human, a homo sapiens sapiens? What about your evolution? In that light, I’d recommend also:
3. The Barefoot Book by Dr. Daniel Howell
4. The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf
5. The Paleo Diet by Dr. Loren Cordain
And check out the Health, Nutrition & Exercise posts and links in my blog!
Oh — what I would like to see is a movie about GaWaNi PonyBoy made by Joe Camp!! Now that would be something!! What a perfect collaboration!! A movie made by someone who knows and loves horses, about someone who knows and loves horses. Hard to find another team who could do that!!
It’s always fun to read out doors next to water…and sun is great! Glad to see you enjoying Your summer!
I think pg. 145 is in chapter 10, “Survival”, page numbers are different in iBooks, kindle or nook. I get iBooks so I can travel easy. Have read both Paleo books by Rob Wolf & Art Devany, some of Loren Cordain, and of course, Truth about Dogs…:)
I just ordered The Character of the Cats and The Nature of horses, on Amazon.
I am confused about your Cat’s comment “strategies” just don’t get it, but anyway I have respect for everyone’s identity and their sexual orientation; it’s okay! It is the soul, and good friendship that counts…maybe I’ll relate to it when I read the book!
Joe Camp and Monty Roberts are great. It’s hard to choose…but, something about PoneyBoy…is real and fascinating!!
Thanks for introducing him to me!
Oh, read chap. 16, “Love is the gift of one self”.
I studied going barefoot over three years ago, specially, On the beach! That is why I’ve VFF’s.
I’ve read “The Barefoot Princess” by Christina Dodd. Watch out! Lol
I read all your posts in your blog; will be able to read it, even when thousands of miles away… thanks to technology!
I love your selection of songs and piano. And the new picture!! 🙂
Good books. You will enjoy them. Confused about the comment? Well, it will be clarified in the books. Yes, PonyBoy is fascinating — agreed; I think I like him best. I have not read “The Barefoot Princess,” and not sure if I have heard of it. Yes, technology is amazing. Glad you like the art, and thanks regarding the new picture!
How are you doing with the book? Tell me about your favorite parts, if you would, please!
How come all the Paleo diet books say different things?? For instance, Art De Vaney’s plan is different than Loren Cordain and even Robb Wolf?
Which to follow…i.e., one says eat baken & cheese and the other says “do not eat them”…confused!!
I got “The Paleo Diet Cookbook by Loren Cordain”, I like it a lot!
Got the books…read it, lol “strategies”, sorry for misunderstanding to begin with…I was confused and worried because of what I read on line at the time…it had something like male cats go after a male…whatever… Lol, got me thinking…I was kind of sad!!
I understand NOW! Yes I do and agree!
But, I wish, you could understand, also!! “Life is all about timing……
Thanks!