Math can be a very tricky subject, and if you find yourself or your child struggling with it, you are not alone, but don’t worry I’m here to help! The reason math can be so difficult is because it’s vastly different than any other subject, and it’s not enough to just memorize the material. Each problem is unique and requires a certain level of logical understanding as well as creative, critical thinking. With practice and the right tutor, anyone is capable of gaining these skills!
Simply understanding the material is not enough to be an effective tutor. Over the years, I’ve learned to explain things in very clear, simple ways that even the students who struggle the most can understand. I also find that it helps to explain things in as many different ways as possible. Not only does this open the door to creative problem solving by showing students just how many different ways there are to think about math, but in doing this, I’m bound to find at least one explanation that really sticks.
In my experience, I find it’s not enough to just lecture and explain the material. If I’m basically repeating everything the teacher already said in class, that’s not going to help much. Every person has a totally different way of thinking and is unique in how they learn and process material. There is no one method that will work for every student. However, my general method is to ask a lot of questions and get to know each student so that I really understand their thought processes and the way they think about math. This is important because it enables me to figure out where they are going wrong and fix the issue at its source. The idea is to work with their natural way of thinking, rather than against it.