During my lifetime, I have worked at emphasizing my strengths and minimizing my weaknesses. This is something that I encourage everyone to focus on. It is something that I encourage teachers and parents to teach their students and children. In accomplishing this task, an effort...
Since I began tutoring online seven years ago, I have had the opportunity to tutor siblings simultaneously online on several occasions. In each case, the siblings' core knowledge was different, which I was able to discover through diagnostic questioning. It is interesting to note...
Whether you are working with students in your classroom or students on your mathematics team, it is important that you get them to relax. Teachers should never intimidate students. Fear should not be used to get them to excel in the classroom or on your team. Efforts should be ma...
Shortly before the beginning of a contest, I try assessing how my students are feeling. If I determine that any are feeling stressed, I try and use humor to get them to relax. In general, in the days preceding a contest, I try and prepare my students by letting them know what to ...
One of the most useful tools that I used when preparing students for competitive mathematics, was something that I referred to as the “reeling-in” technique. Whether this technique was used on an individual or a team, the purpose was for students to set a target and then grad...
Students love using technology. They also love learning how to solve problems faster. That is why every teacher should learn how to use a calculator efficiently. They should also make sure that each of their students uses their calculators in the same way. Teachers can take a...
Many times, students are more concerned about what others are doing than focusing on their own performances. Whether a student is in the classroom or participating in an academic event, they should focus on themselves. It is important that students be taught that they have no c...
When teaching in the classroom or tutoring students to prepare for taking multiple choice tests or other kinds of tests, students need to learn that many times the problem can assist in acquiring the solution. To illustrate my point, look at the following problems. Example...
I am often asked if there is a shortcut for success and I rapidly answer yes. I explain that although it is counter intuitive, the secret for success is “patience”. When a large building is constructed, soil studies and other tests need to be done initially. Time is taken ...
Parents are always wondering how effective online tutoring is when compared with in-person tutoring. I have done both and after having tutored since my retirement 12 years ago, I have concluded that the benefits of online tutoring outweigh the benefits of in-person tutoring. Wh...
