Wow the summer flew by fast! Fall is here and I'm looking forward to helping students succeed with their math again this year.  Many of my students have been with me for years but some have now graduated thus opening up spots for new students.  I have been tutoring for many years and I'm still amazed by the transformation students often undergo with tutoring.  

Here is a typical scenario...A student comes to me because they somehow have fallen behind.  Maybe it is from transferring from a different school district, or they never really grasped some of the previous concepts, or they missed a lot of school from a sickness, but something has them feeling overwhelmed, confused, or lost.  I've been there before too...you feel like maybe you walked into the wrong classroom or even the wrong school by mistake...it's as if a different language is suddenly being spoken - "Math Latin."  

Our first order of business is to quickly get the student up to speed with the current material.  Inevitably, while doing so, deficiencies start showing themselves from previous math classes so these need to be addressed as they appear.  Then, once we have made some headway into the current topics we need to get ahead of the constant playing "catch up."  We need to get just a little bit ahead of what is coming next in the chapter.  This is a game changer.  Now students start to feel a comfort and confidence inside themselves as THEY are now the ones answering questions in class, helping classmates, and getting A's on surprise pop quizzes.

Next, the tightness in the neck, shoulders, and stomach lessen and a comfort and relaxation start to arise with more frequent smiles being seen. And now with this deeper relaxation and confidence learning itself actually becomes easier.   Something has been unlocked, the ship has been turned, and a paradigm shift has occurred. 

The student now sees themselves in a different way - as capable of learning and achieving. 

Now, before I make this post start sounding like all mythical rainbows and unicorns (although I have seen the above scenario play out too many times to count) there are some things that prevent the desired outcomes, so let's quickly go through some of them (ones I've witnessed).

Number one, it's not actually a "math" problem.  Sometimes students are going through difficult personal situations.  Maybe their parents just got divorced or are going through a divorce, loss of a friend or loved one, or the dreaded bullying.  If you, as a parent, suspect it is more than a math problem get some counseling for your child, either free counseling through the school or outside of school.  

Number two, it is a math problem and it could be that a student is in too advanced of a math class.  If they are in honors/advanced and feeling over their head maybe they should consider switching to the regular level.  If they are in a regular level they may need to go to a remedial level or some classes are split into two parts A and B so the material can be covered more slowly.  

Number three, it's a more general unaddressed or undiagnosed learning challenge such as dyslexia or dyscalculia. Or even a need for eyeglasses or hearing aids if students cannot see the board clearly or hear the instructor.

Number four, maybe your student isn't interested in a traditional academic college prep track (and that is completely ok and good too). Check out alternative programs available to learn a trade/skill. 

At the end of the day, yes I would like to help your student succeed with their math, but more importantly I would like to see them succeed in their life. Let me know if I can answer any questions or if I can be of any tutoring assistance. Call or text me anytime..even right now  (248-219-8591) or reach out through my website at www.mariosmathtutoring.com

It is starting to feel like autumn is upon us and with it a new school year.  The winter squashes in my garden are ripening and the corn is approaching harvest time. Now is the time to line up a tutor for your son or daughter as experienced tutor's schedules tend to fill quickly.  Take a look at your child's after school activities, sports, clubs, and other commitments and find (or carve out) a time that they can commit to for regular weekly tutoring.  Sometimes weekends work better, sometimes later in the evenings, or sometimes immediately after school is the best time.  Math is a core subject and there is lots of material to cover on a daily and weekly basis.  Also, math is not a compartmentalized study.  Math continually builds on previously learned concepts which makes it more challenging for students especially if they forget, or fail to learn concepts making future topics that much more difficult.  Having a tutor can help your student fill in gaps in their learning, stay on top of current material, prepare for upcoming topics, as well as continually prepare for upcoming quizzes and tests.  As far as I know there aren't any secret shortcuts or tricks to learning math.  But, if there is something that approaches it, that would be working with a tutor.  Students are often very busy with all their classes and activities and it would appear that tutoring is just one more activity on top of a towering stack of too many commitments already, further expending what little time students have remaining. However, the time spent with a math tutor can actually free up time and mental energy with less time needing to be spent struggling with homework, studying for tests, and worrying and stressing. Take a look at what other families have said about tutoring with me and let me know if I can be of assistance to your student this school year...and have a happy Fall! - Mario's Math Tutoring

What makes for good tutoring? Is it the tutor? Is it the student? Is it the right tutor with the right student?  

From my experience and in my opinion it is definitely the dynamic between the tutor and the student.  You may have a great tutor but a student that is very resistant to being tutored. Or you may have an eager and interested student but have a rough mannered tutor that is unwilling to meet a student at the level they are at.  There are obviously a million different combinations, but again, I believe it comes back to the synergy that can happen between a good fit of tutor and student.  

The student has to do their part: engaging actively with the session, asking questions, knowing what they want to go over, taking notes, etc.  The tutor has to have a good grasp of the material they are working with, have access to good learning materials, and be able to create a good space for learning.  

Am I genius mathematician that can download into a student's brain everything they could possibly want/need to know about math? No. But I have been tutoring students part-time for many years and full time for many years (approx. 25 years in total) and I keep coming back to creating a good space for learning to occur. I respect the students I work with never talking down to them, always being encouraging, celebrating their successes, and working with them to overcome their stumbling blocks in a compassionate way(I've been there...learning math can be challenging).

As a parent you may have to try a tutor or two or three to find a good fit for your son or daughter.  So, don't be afraid to try a session or two with a tutor and gauge how your child responds.

I hope you and your family had a wonderful summer! Now it's time to get ready to ramp up for another successful school year!  Notebooks?....check. Folders?....got em. Pencils?....yes....paper?....yes. Tutor? Tutor?.....Now's the time to set up a regular session with a good tutor as in-demand tutors' schedules tend to fill up quickly once school starts.  Now's the time to take a look at your schedule, after school activities, sports, clubs, etc. and figure out a time that will be a good fit.  Don't wait until overwhelm sets in, or you or your student get behind, or worse yet when progress reports come out and you realize you waited too long. Give Mario's Math Tutoring a call, text, or email now and let's chat about your particular situation. Wishing you success this school year!

The question of the moment that parents are asking themselves and other is "Is virtual learning as good as in-person learning???"  And when it comes to tutoring parents are wondering the same thing.  Lately, I've been doing my share of online tutoring and here is what I have noticed:

1. The older students seem to do better with online tutoring than the younger ones.  Now part of this I feel has to do with maturity and also partly to interest and comfort working with technology.  I have had some middle school students really engaged with online learning and some high school students not be so engaged with it.   You may just have to try a session or two to see how your student responds to it.

2.  The expectation of the class and the classroom teacher.  At the end of last year, at the beginning of the pandemic, the bar was set really low by schools and teachers and the pressure for comprehension and emphasis on grades was not a priority.  I think that was part of the reason that students didn't feel it was that important and didn't put in the corresponding level of effort.  It sounds as if that is not going to be the expectation this school year, so I'm hoping students will now be ready to dive in more seriously to virtual learning as well as online tutoring.

3.  The ability of the tutor to bring alive the online learning "classroom."  What I mean by this is that some tutors may not have the necessary equipment, technology, and know-how to really make online tutoring effective.  This is where I've been putting my effort lately to ease the transition for students to online learning. From writing tablets, to document cameras, to using capable online video conferencing software, to having the actual textbooks that students are using in many cases. To see a sample video of my current tutoring setup see the video I did to help other tutors get set up as well below:

If you would like to try an online tutoring session with me to see if it is a good experience for your child let me know.  

Mario
​Mario's Math Tutoring

The school district that I mainly tutor in recently announced that they will be starting the first month of the year doing virtual learning and then evaluate from there.  I know that parents are concerned that their children may not be getting the same level of education that they will need going forward into next year and on into college. Especially with a subject like Math that really builds on previous concepts, falling behind can make math get more and more difficult.  

So what can be done? I believe that parents, teachers, tutors, families, counselors and everyone else around the child needs to communicate to the student that he or she needs to take an active role and interest in their own learning.  There are so many distractions while trying to learn over the computer and some students don't even attend the online lectures that are being presented.  

First things first.  Setting up some type of regular schedule for not just attending the online lectures but for how much time is actively spent studying outside of online classes is important.  It's easy to let days and weeks and then months slip by without doing very much.

Second, if you are able to, enlist the help of a tutor.  A regular weekly meeting with a tutor can go a long way to helping a student stay on top of the material they are learning and even get slightly ahead so they know what is coming up in the next few days in class.  

Third, there are many free online resources, like YouTube videos, as well as paid resources such as online video courses that can help fill in the gaps in a students learning and help them get over learning hurdles by an experienced teacher or tutor.

Lastly, I know things are really challenging for many students right now with being more isolated from friends and social activities.  So help your child try to find a healthy balance of studying, playing, resting, exercising, and even daydreaming about the future they would like to create for themselves.  

Wishing you success in your math and your life,
Mario
​Mario's Math Tutoring

Given the current out of school situation I'm available to assist students over Zoom.  Check out the video below I put together for other tutors and teachers that shows my current setup and how my online tutoring works.

Just wrapping up the second semester of 2019 and starting to prepare for Fall of 2019!  If you are interested in a regular weekly session for the 2019-2020(did I just type 2020?!) for yourself or your child contact me soon as spaces fill quickly!  Looking forward to helping students do their best again next year! Also, subscribe to "Mario's Math Tutoring" YouTube channel where I continue to post math tutorials for both local math students and math students around the world! 
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This is generally the time that people set goals for themselves for the new year.  I too follow this time honored tradition.  Let me share some techniques that have helped me accomplish more than I would have otherwise.  

1.  Write your goals down.  Somehow, when I write something I want to accomplish down on actual paper my brain can't help but start getting to work on it.  Sometimes I write things down to work on a month from now and once next month has arrived I've already completed what I wanted to do.  So try it if you haven't...trust me...it is way different then just thinking about what you want to do. Something surprising happens when you write it down.

2.  Look at your goals periodically.

3.  Break big goals down into small steps that are easy to complete. 

There are whole books written on goal setting but I recommend starting with these 3 easy steps to get you started. 

Wishing good things for you in 2018.

​-Mario

I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer.  If you are looking for a math tutor this school year now is a good time to sign up as spots fill up quickly!  Don't wait to fall behind but rather get a good running head start to succeed in math this year.  

Whether you are taking PreAlgebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Trigonometry, or Precalculus I'm here to help.  I have worked with students in the Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Oakland Township areas for many years and am familiar with the curriculum, schools, and families.  Oftentimes I'm working with students that are in the same class as your son or daughter.  

Let me know if you have questions about my tutoring I'm happy to answer them.  Generally I cater the session to what your student needs, however most sessions follow a basic format of first asking if there are any questions or things they would like to discuss.  We spend some time reviewing recent topics and also previewing upcoming topics so students will be prepared.  We also are constantly prepping for upcoming quizzes and tests by simulating a  test taking experience.  

What I feel sets me apart from some other tutors is that I have lots of experience tutoring these math subjects and am familiar with the textbooks and curriculums.  Also, I take a very positive and encouraging approach which makes students feel comfortable working with me and they can get more out of the sessions.  Furthermore I tutor math full time so I'm very current with what is going on in the classes from working with many students in the same school and oftentimes even having the same teacher as your child.  Lastly, I enjoy helping students succeed and look forward to helping your student!

I look forward to talking to you soon!

​-Mario