Our Tutors

Robert R

Teaching Style

I’ve always been interested in the application of math and science to the solution of real world problems. This led me to a very satisfying career in engineering. Therefore my approach to teaching is very application oriented. I like to relate the subject to problems that the students will encounter in real life situations. I've generally only worked with older students; high school or college age or older mature adults who have returned to school to get advance training or learn a new trade.

Experience Summary

I’ve always been interested in math and science; especially in their application to solving real world problems. This led me to a very satisfying career in engineering. I have a BS in electrical engineering from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) and an MS in electrical engineering from Marquette University. I am a registered professional engineer in Illinois. I have over 30 years of experience in the application, development, and sales/field support of electrical/electronic controls for industrial, aerospace, and automotive applications. I’m currently doing consulting work at Hamilton-Sundstrand, Delta Power Company, and MTE Hydraulics in Rockford. I also have college teaching and industrial training experience. I have taught several courses at Rock Valley College in Electronic Technology, mathematics, and in the Continuing Education area. I’ve done industrial technical training for Sundstrand, Barber Colman, and others. I’ve also taught math courses at Rasmussen College and Ellis College (online course). I’ve also been certified as an adjunct instructor for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for math and physics courses. I've tutored my own sons in home study programs. I'm currently tutoring a home schooled student in math using Saxon Math. I hope to do more teaching/tutoring in the future as I transition into retirement.

Brittin B

Teaching Style

Briefly: high energy. I enjoy being in front of a class presenting new information to students. Personally, I have had a handful of great teachers and would like to be that type of teacher for someone else. I enjoy being able to answer questions and motivate others. Most of my experience has been in a group setting, but I am just as comfortable one-on-one. I get the most out of applying concepts that seem obtuse to a world that we see every day.

Experience Summary

As a graduate teaching assistant for the Economics Dept. at USF, I led structured help sessions for the students twice each week. I completed my Master of Arts in Economics, a program that was very math-intensive, in December 2008 and am currently instructing classes at Hillsborough Community College. Through high-school and college, I have worked as a private tutor in the subjects of mathematics and economics.

Veronica V

Teaching Style

I love teaching and the reward that it brings. I am a step-by-step oriented teacher. I've had many students return saying how my style of teaching continues to help them in their current studies. In my 14 years of experience, I've learned that many students learn with many different styles. I believe that every child can learn; however, the teacher must reach them at their level. If I have a good understanding of where the student is academically, I can help them to grow academically.

Experience Summary

I've taught middle school for 14 years. My goal in becoming a teacher was to reach those students who had, somehow, fallen through the cracks of education. I taught at a drop-out-prevention school for 7 years. During those years, my student scores continuously rose. I taught 7th and 9th grade at this school. I transferred to a different middle school where I taught 6th & 7th grade for two years and the remaining five years, I taught Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1. I began to tutor after school during my first year to struggling students. I was also listed on the school boards list of tutors. I also worked at an after-school program. During these years, I tutored second graders and up to mathematical levels of geometry, Algebra 1 and Algebra II.

John J

Teaching Style

I am convinced, partly because of my own experiences, that the current educational system best serves the needs of the average student. I also believe that it seldom addresses the needs of those students whose learning style is not a good fit with the one size fits all educational system. This may be for a wide variety of reasons, but the result is that the student is left without the needed skill set to compete and what’s worse, left with the message that they are responsible for "not getting it" and are inferior or stupid in some respect. I nearly flunked junior high pre-algebra, and was a mediocre math student in high school. I eventually managed to teach myself, and have subsequently scored 800 on the math section of the GRE and was one of about 50/15000 to score a perfect 15 on the quantitative section of the medical college admission test (MCAT). What is wrong with this picture? My own take is that we all have different styles of optimal learning, and what’s more, are often hindered by simple roadblocks that only 1:1 teaching can identify and redress. I am very passionate about finding the approach that clicks, and building back the esteem that comes with mastery of the subject material.

Experience Summary

Prior to entering graduate and later medical school, I tutored a variety of subjects in the area of mathematics and science. As a PhD candidate, one of the requirements was to assist in teaching the physiology labs, and as an advanced candidate, was given the opportunity to give lectures in physiology to medical and nursing students. Most recently I have been an unpaid volunteer on the on-line physics forum where advanced high school and college students can go on line for assistance with their homework. Because of my career selection, I have had to take many standardized examinations and am quite adept at these. I believe I can help other aspiring students achieve the higher scores needed for acceptance in programs of their choice.

Lucille L

Teaching Style

My students know I love math. I am enthusiastic, patient, and caring. I believe everyone can learn math given the right circumstances. I take interest in my students, I email them, I encourage them to do their homework. Through this personal interest, my students work to please the teacher. I also use different teaching styles: discovery learning, Look-Do-Learn, one-to-one instruction, critical thinking. Once a student, always a student for me. I go the extra mile.

Experience Summary

From an early age I loved math and so when I graduated with a BA in Math and Latin, I went straight into teaching math at the high school level. During graduate school years, I taught math at the University of Toronto. While working with computer programming, I taught math in the evening division of Westbury College in Montreal. I have taught math in different countries: Jamaica, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Nigeria-West African Educational Council, The Bahamas, and Florida.

Ellen E

Teaching Style

I prefer to focus on a child's strengths, even while teaching a subject that may be considered the child's weakest. I believe finding and integrating strengths promotes learning because it creates positive attitudes and a more productive learning environment. While understanding certain systems or theories is necessary, I think it is sometimes easier for a child to grasp challenging material when they see plenty of examples of the theory at work.

Experience Summary

As a recent graduate, with seven years experience writing in a professional environment, I excel at writing and editing because I understand the system of language, and I pay close attention to detail. I have nearly five years experience working with children in a structured environment, in addition to working with children of various ages as a summer camp counselor. I also hold a certificate with significant training in teaching English to non-native speakers.

Lin L

Teaching Style

I enjoy working with learners from preschool-age through the adult years. I have found that encouragement and positive reinforcement seem to be most successful in helping my students reach their highest potential. As an educator it is my responsibility to determine what each student needs. Sometimes the student needs the information re-taught; sometimes the information needs to be presented in a different way; and sometimes the student needs additional practice to move the information from short-term to long-term memory.

Experience Summary

After graduating from college, I began my career in education at the elementary level. As I was teaching, I realized I needed a better understanding of the reading process because it is such a fundamental skill. I decided to get my Master's degree in reading. I have taught in elementary and middle school classrooms and have worked as both a math and a reading specialist. Throughout these experiences I have been actively tutoring as well. I have tutored in reading, writing and math through the college level.

Emily E

Teaching Style

My teaching style focuses on the needs of the student. I tend to access how the student learns best within the first 1-2 sessions and then I can work with the student in the way that is most beneficial to him or her. Each student has a ball of learning energy inside them that will come out if you encourage them. I love encouraging students and getting them excited about learning new things. I try to simplify concepts to make it easier to grasp and compare assignments to life situations. There aren't many people who care about how other people succeed, but I love to watch people grow as they learn new ideas, grasp new concepts, learn some new studying tips and succeed in their education.

Experience Summary

As a graduate with a BA in English and Spanish I have developed a love for languages. As an English major I have read hundreds of books and wrote scores of papers, which gave me excellent reading and grammar skills. Writing papers also helped me learn to critically analyze and interpret passages as well as whole books. Education outside of my university includes a month in Prague for a four week course to get a TEFL certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). During that month we, the students, taught the Czech students English. When I spent four months in Spain, I tutored a girl who needed a little extra help with studying for her classes. We worked together twice a week on her Spanish assignments in the areas of Spanish history, grammar, phonetics and literature.