Tag Archive for: math tutoring

Drew M. Hodis
, , , ,

The Role of Tutors Beyond Academic Support

The Role of Tutors Beyond Academic Support

Tutoring is often viewed as a means to improve academic performance. But the impact of tutoring goes far beyond grades. A great tutor can help a student build confidence, develop motivation, and cultivate skills that will benefit them well beyond the classroom. Tutors play a crucial role in shaping capable, independent learners. Here are some ways tutors can help students in ways that go beyond the grade.

Building Confidence

Many students struggle with self-doubt, especially when facing academic challenges. A tutor’s ability to provide individualized attention can help students develop confidence in their abilities. A good tutor offers encouragement and constructive feedback. They also design lessons that play to a student’s strengths and interests in order to build confidence.

Encouraging Motivation and a Positive Attitude Toward Learning

A lack of motivation is a common challenge for students, often stemming from frustration or disinterest. Tutors can ignite enthusiasm for learning by making subjects engaging and relevant. They can help students set achievable goals and celebrate progress, relate lessons to real-world situations, and use interactive methods to make learning exciting.

Fostering a Growth Mindset

Resilient students can overcome setbacks and work through mistakes. They know they are capable of accomplishing their goals. This resilience doesn’t always come naturally, but tutors can help cultivate this growth mindset. Tutors create a safe environment for students to try and fail, and ultimately learn from their mistakes. This process also allows students to see that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. A good tutor praises effort and persistence, not just the final result.

Instilling Lifelong Learning Habits

Education does not end with school. Developing curiosity, self-discipline, and a continuous desire to learn can help a student be successful in all areas of life. Tutors can introduce students to different learning resources, like books, online courses and educational videos. Tutors can also help students with self-reflection and goal setting, which is an important part of achievement and lifelong learning. Students can also learn time management and organizational skills from tutors, which will serve them well beyond the classroom.

Final Thoughts

A tutor’s role extends beyond improving academic performance; they have the power to shape students into confident, motivated, and lifelong learners. Investing in tutoring is not just about better grades, it’s about empowering students to reach their full potential in every aspect of life.

At Hodis Learning & Music, we believe that the most effective way to help students is by thoroughly understanding their needs and abilities, and tailoring our services to meet them where they are. Our educators teach with kindness, patience, and positive motivation. We always strive to make learning fun and enjoyable. If you’re interested in starting tutoring, give us a call or submit a form on our website.

by
Drew M. Hodis
, , , , ,

Why Is Math So Challenging for Many Students?

Why is Math so challenging for many students?

Mathematics is a fundamental subject that plays a crucial role in academic success and everyday life. However, many students struggle with math due to different challenges. Understanding these difficulties and approaching them strategically can significantly improve a student’s confidence and performance. Below are some of the most common challenges students face in math and practical ways to overcome them.

1. Math Anxiety

Math anxiety is a common issue and can make students feel stressed, nervous, and insecure.

How to Overcome It:

  • Remind students that making mistakes is part of learning.

  • Practice relaxation techniques, like positive affirmations and deep breathing, before tackling math problems.

  • Provide encouragement and celebrate small wins in order to build confidence

2. Difficulty Understanding Concepts

Some students struggle to grasp mathematical concepts, especially during the transition from basic arithmetic to more abstract topics like algebra and calculus.

How to Overcome It:

  • Use visual aids like charts, graphs, and diagrams to simplify complex ideas.

  • Break down problems into smaller, manageable steps.

  • Use real-life examples to make concepts more relatable and practical.

3. Poor Problem-Solving Skills

Poor critical thinking and analytical skills can make it challenging to apply math concepts and solve problems.

How to Overcome It:

  • Teach step-by-step problem-solving strategies, such as identifying known and unknown variables.

  • Encourage students to practice with a variety of problem types to strengthen their critical thinking abilities.

  • Foster a learning environment that encourages asking questions and exploring different approaches to solutions.

4. Lack of Practice

Math requires consistent practice. Some students struggle because they do not dedicate enough time to practicing concepts and solving problems.

How to Overcome It:

  • Set a regular practice schedule to reinforce learning.

  • Provide engaging math exercises, such as puzzles and games, to make practice enjoyable.

  • Try online math resources, apps, and interactive tools for additional practice.

5. Difficulty with Memorizing Formulas

Students often find it difficult to remember mathematical formulas and equations, which affects their ability to solve problems.

How to Overcome It:

  • Use mnemonic devices and memory aids to help retain formulas.

  • Encourage hands-on learning through repeated application of formulas in different problems.

  • Explain the logic behind formulas instead of rote memorization to improve understanding.

6. Struggles with Time Management

During exams, many students struggle to complete math problems within a given time frame.

How to Overcome It:

  • Teach time management techniques, such as allocating specific time for each question.

  • Encourage timed practice tests to simulate real exam conditions.

  • Help students prioritize problems based on difficulty level to maximize their efficiency.

Conclusion

Overcoming difficulties in math requires patience, practice, and the right strategies. With the right support system, students can build confidence and improve their mathematical skills. Academic tutors can provide personalized guidance and resources to help students excel in math. Submit a form on our website or call us at (626) 227-1149 to start math tutoring today!

by
Rachel Hodis
, ,

Women in STEM

Women in STEM

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re shining a spotlight on the remarkable women who are making strides in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). We sat down with some of our own talented tutors who are actively engaged in these fields to hear their perspectives, challenges, and triumphs.

About Some of Our STEM Tutors

  • Abby is a math tutor. She attended U.C. Santa Barbara where she received her B.S. in Statistics and Data Science and a B.A. in Feminist Studies. Her goal is to become a high school math teacher.
  • Amber is a math, biology, and chemistry tutor. During the day, she is a high school STEM teacher. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from USC.

When do you remember first being interested in your subject area?

As long as I can remember! In third grade, I vividly remember being extremely competitive in a multiplication game we would play in class. By the time I was in middle school, I knew I would be majoring in math in college and doing something with it with my career. – Abby S.

I was always very curious about science as a child, but the first time I considered studying engineering in college was during my high school physics class. I fell in love with the subject matter. – Amber H.

What has been your experience as a woman in a STEM field?

Growing up my parents and teachers were extremely supportive and encouraged me to pursue STEM. They had me taking accelerated courses and knew it was something that I excelled at.

It wasn’t until college when I saw a disproportionate number of women in STEM. While majoring in math at UCSB, I did not have a single female professor or TA for the first two years. A few times I felt that I wasn’t taken as seriously by some of the guys in my math courses.

When I switched to data science, to my surprise, I actually found some more women, both students and professors. There was a “Women in STEM” club at UCSB and some scholarships available. – Abby S.

I have been very lucky to have such a positive experience as a woman in STEM. My teachers in middle and high school actively encouraged my interests, which made me feel comfortable in STEM classes. In college, the women in my engineering program definitely looked out for each other. – Amber H.

Do you feel like your experience has changed over time?

I think that over time, the idea of “women in STEM” has been more promoted, but the actual practice still isn’t there – we still see major gender gaps in these careers and fields and gender bias in education and workplaces. I like to believe that the next generation will lessen those.

My personal experience with it has kind of come full circle as I felt encouraged during K-12, felt a bit to the side during college, but am now pursuing my math teaching credential where I hope to encourage all students to move forward with STEM and follow their passions. – Abby S.

In general, I think the tide is changing in the STEM field. For example, USC Viterbi School of Engineering (my alma mater) had an incoming class that was 49% women in 2023!

More women and girls are choosing to go into STEM fields, which means this generation of girls will have more support systems in their education and careers. – Amber H.

Why do you think it’s important for women to continue to pursue careers in STEM?

It is so important! For starters, you can only become what you see is possible so we need women in these positions now to inspire the next generation of girls and so on. Additionally, STEM fields are extremely important in how our world runs so we need diverse people in all of the spaces.

The people making big decisions in workplaces are the people who are then going to be properly represented in society. We need more women, especially more women of color, to be welcomed into these fields so all voices are heard and all people are being taken into consideration. – Abby S.

Women need to be in places where decisions are being made. When women are involved in medicine, chemistry, engineering, etc. our experiences can be reflected in the world around us.

When women are involved in the design process, we can ensure that the medicine we use is tested on bodies similar to ours, or that car crash tests account for differences between male and female bodies. – Amber H.

If there’s one piece of advice you could give to a young girl or woman interested in STEM, what would it be?

Find a female role model to follow and be the next role model for a girl looking up to you. – Abby S.

I would tell any girls or women in STEM fields to reach out to other women in their fields. Having other women around who can support you can make STEM fields less daunting. I relied a lot on the other women in my program for advice or guidance. – Amber H.

Sign Up for Science and Math Tutoring Today!

If your student is struggling in a STEM subject, reach out to start tutoring today. We offer all math and science courses at all grade levels. Learn more or schedule your first session by calling or emailing us today.

by
Rachel Hodis
,

Educator Spotlight: Abby S.

Abby S. Educator Spotlight

What subjects do you teach?

  • Academics: Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calc, Calculus AB & BC, AP Statistics. Middle School Math, Elementary School Math

What’s the most rewarding part of being an educator?

The most rewarding part is when a student has a “light bulb moment”! Students will work so hard on a concept that is challenging to them and then suddenly you can see it click. They understand the concept, our hard work together has paid off, and I can see their confidence rising.


What are the most common areas you see your students struggling in?

The most common mathematical area I see students struggling in is with real world problems or word problems. They know how to crunch the numbers, but get stuck when words are thrown in there. Students also struggle having the same confidence taking the test as they do during our sessions.


How do you help them improve in those areas?

Lots of practice and repetition is the best way to work on that. I tell my students to read the problem, figure out what it’s asking for, then locate what information given will help us get there. Above all, don’t freak out when you see a bunch of words! It’s not so scary after you have enough practice and know what to look for.

To help with test taking confidence, we often take practice tests together. I reinforce the importance of believing in themselves, having a positive mindset, getting a good night’s sleep, and treating the test just like the practice.


What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching students?

Outside of teaching, I enjoy being with my friends and family, running, binging TV series, playing the daily Wordle, and crafts.


What do you think makes Hodis Learning & Music a great service and company to work for?

I love working for HLM because of the strong relationships between students, tutors, and the leadership team. Students and tutors are thoughtfully paired, and I love being able to adapt sessions for each individual student as I work with them longer. I have always felt fully valued and supported as a member of this team and am grateful to work with such awesome students under a stellar company I’m proud to represent.

Learn more about Abby.

by