Experience Summary
I have been teaching math at the college level for the past 10 years. I have taught pre-algebra, intro to algebra, college algebra, pre-calculus and calculus I at various local universities. At DeVry, the focus was on individual instruction, giving me years of experience helping students one-on-one. Prior to that I earned my Secondary Math Education certification at the University of Toledo where I student taught various classes at a Toledo public high school. As an engineering student, I took many math, physics and chemistry courses and have tutored all of them over the years. I have tutored students elementary-aged all the way up through college.
I have played and taught various musical instruments over the last 20 years including voice (pop singing), piano/keyboards, acoustic guitar (primarily rhythm), electric bass, accordion (rock style), mandolin, djembe, bodhran and irish pennywhistle. I have played in and led various church "worship" rock bands over the years where I gained expert skill at picking out how to play songs from listening to recordings.
Teaching Style
I am a laid-back, personable and practical instructor with a knack for simplifying math terminology down to everyday language, skilled at translating what appears to be a complicated concept into it's most basic, understandable form. I attempt to explain why something works the way it does because a student having that understanding will help him or her retain and be able to use the concept. I believe that one-on-one math instruction is the ideal approach to teaching / learning math because a tutor can watch exactly what a student is doing and make corrections that the student might not even realize he/she is making. English is my first language.
My Hobbies
I have played numerous musical instruments over the years. I am primarily self-taught in voice (pop singing), piano/keyboards, acoustic guitar (primarily rhythm), electric bass, accordion (rock style), mandolin, djembe, bodhran and irish pennywhistle. I am also self-taught in stop-motion animation and amateur film-making.
Other Comments
If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask.