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ElisabethWhispers · 04-17-2010, 10:37 AM

Since I'm all for the path of least resistance and there's a girth of informative people here ... I'm asking here, first.

There is someone in my life that is in desperate need of some geometry tutoring. It's a little late in the year, I know, but if it was ANY other subject, I would be right on it but with math, I'm a complete math retard.

I tried going to the bookstore and finding a book on high school geometry and my eyes just glazed over. It's obvious that I'm not going to be able to relearn it myself. I tried to speak to the high school teacher about tutoring, because they do offer it at the high school, and the effect on me was similar.

I have a child who is concerned about the "cool" factor and tutoring at school. Frankly, I could care less but I DO need some alternatives. Talking to the teacher and offering to help myself isn't getting us anywhere.

Has anyone used those companies for tutoring such as the ones like Kumor? I was thinking of putting an ad up on craigslist or calling the junior college and finding a tutor that way.

Does anyone KNOW of a math tutoring alternative? Jeez. Maybe if the tutor showed up looking like a Hooter girl he would show more attention. As it is, he has little interest in this subject and it's affecting his GPA.

Any advice would be appreciated. The course is AP Geometry on the 9th grade level. Which I'm guessing translates into 10th grade geometry at a fast pace.

Thanks,
Elisabeth

P.S. Now? I sincerely regret that I just HATED math in school. It was worse in college. But I guess that there is always just one subject for everyone that is a challenge.

Sum1Else · 04-17-2010, 01:12 PM

It depends on how you want to motivate him:

1) Basic geometry exists everywhere in our lives. I'm sure if you sniff around you can find one of those books that shows how geometry applies to whatever he enjoys.

2) I once had a kid bitch and moan about how he hated English. I told him he was right and that unless he was planning on being a poet learning Shakespeare was absolutely worthless to him. But I never plan on being a professional asskicker (although it would be totally awesome) so why do I go to the gym? Cuz eventually it could happen and my muscles need the reps. Learning poetry (or geometry) is similar: my brain needs the reps so it's prepared for studying something difficult later.

3) Hooters girl sounds pretty awesome. Bribery is a fantastic thing.

TexTushHog · 04-17-2010, 05:21 PM

I'd pick the local college nearest your home and call the math department secretary. Departmental secretaries are the key to navigating any university. They run the friggin' place. Explain your problem and ask if there is a upper level student who might need a little extra money who she thinks would be good at this and I'll bet you get a tutor within a day or two.

HoneyRose · 04-17-2010, 10:08 PM

I agree that contacting the math department of a college is the best idea.

There's also a website called Care.com that lists tutors in various subjects along with their credentials. You can search for one who will come to your home, their home, or meet in a neutral place like a Starbucks.

bullman · 04-18-2010, 08:09 AM

His school might be able to put you in touch with a retired teacher that tutors.

strut_78 · 04-18-2010, 09:05 AM

I am currently taking a Precalculus course at a local college after being out of high school for many years. I can honestly say you should try to see if there is a Student Solutions Manual (SSM) available for his particular textbook. Get the ISBN number off of his book and search it on a website such as amazon.com and see if there is one available. Those student solutions manuals are a lifesaver, they have all of the odd numbered problems worked out step by step and it has virtually eliminated any need for a tudor for me. Also, check you tube, there are a number of tutorial videos on there for just about any math subject. I particularly recommend you look up kahn academy, the guy on there is a genius and gives excellent instructional videos. http://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy?blend=1&ob=4 <-----this is the link. Hope this helps. Also, many colleges have math labs that provide tutoring, but I don't know if they will provide it to high school students. You might want to call them and ask.

Guest062512 · 04-18-2010, 01:59 PM

Elisabeth,
Check PM.

blackspanishteacher · 04-18-2010, 05:53 PM

Do not feel bad about hating math. Some of us, eh hem are right brained and it completely flies over our heads. Thus, I majored in Spanish. I took statistics... Well I'm not going to embarrass myself of here and say how many times I took statistics before I passed with a B. Sorry, I digress...

Okay, Kumon isn't such a good idea because they actually don't focus on what your child is learning now in the classroom, but rather, the level of that he/she in on and they work from there to bring him up to grade level.

There is a wonderful math teacher that works at CCCCD Preston Ridge Campus in Frisco. If there is anyone who can help your son understand math, she can (or recommend someone with her same teaching style). She's patient, answers each question with a smile and a "good question" response no matter how many times it is asked in the classroom. She actually makes people like me, who are completely ignorant on that subject, feel as if they can become a math major. She also has a bunch of mnemonics that she uses to help you remember formulas and such.

Im PM'ing you her name.

Texas Contrarian · 04-19-2010, 09:01 AM

TexTushHog's suggestion to get in touch with personnel in the math department of an area college or university is a good one.

When I was a graduate student back in the early 1970s, I tutored a number of freshman calculus students. That's how I found most of my opportunities. We had a bulletin board with listings of candidates and their hours of availability. Nowadays, I'd be surprised if most colleges don't have some sort of online resource for this.

And you'd be surprised how cheap I worked!

For H.S. geometry, you don't even need a graduate student. A reasonably competent undergrad might do just fine. In fact, there may be something to be said for finding a tutor who isn't too far removed (in years elapsed) from his or her high school math days.

The important thing is to find someone whose personality and temperament work well with the student. Someone who can coax out what I used to call that "switch-flipping" moment. A good tutor will try to break down a barrier to understanding a problem by coming at it from several different angles, so to speak. Then the student may get an, "Oh, yeah, I see that now!" look on his face, as though a switch had been flipped and a light turned on.

ElisabethWhispers · 04-19-2010, 09:45 AM

Thank you ALL for the wonderful advice and the additional information. A personal apology is deserved, though, for a few folks who have already sent me a PM and I haven't answered them ... YET!

I just wanted the weekend to be sortof free from math-time purgatory before starting in on Monday and trying to find a few options.

Thank you so much for the advice!!! Now, I guess the real work begins!

Sincerely,
Elisabeth

Boltfan · 04-19-2010, 10:34 AM

AP Geometry huh? I could only take AP Calculus when I was in high school. Good luck in your search.

ElisabethWhispers · 04-19-2010, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boltfan

AP Geometry huh? I could only take AP Calculus when I was in high school. Good luck in your search.

Thanks!

Advanced placement courses now, I believe, start in 9th grade. In 8th grade, they had pre-ap courses available. Back during the times that I went to high school, (according my son who states these are the years that date back to the dinosaur), I don't believe that they actually had any (or not many) advanced placement courses.

We just thought that students who took courses like calculus, chemistry and Latin in high school were absolutely weird, obscenely intelligent and/or from another planet. Of course, there were some of us girls who wanted to loose our virginity to these types of fellows.

Lol,
Elisabeth

Boltfan · 04-19-2010, 02:29 PM

Not to hijack your thread too much but one of my favorite classes was AP Chemistry. Learned some sweet stuff in there.

No one wanted to lose their virginity to me for my smarts though hehe.

txcwby6 · 04-19-2010, 03:53 PM

Northwood, UTA or any of the other college Math Departments usually have tutoring sessions available for jr. and senior h.s. students. It's also a better fir for the child the needs the help since most of the professional tutoring businesses are staffed by old(er) people.

ElisabethWhispers · 04-19-2010, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boltfan

Not to hijack your thread too much but one of my favorite classes was AP Chemistry. Learned some sweet stuff in there.

No one wanted to lose their virginity to me for my smarts though hehe.

No hijack (I personally adore a good thread drift!), but two questions. One, you said that there was only AP Calculus offered at your high school in your first thread response and the in the second, that your favorite course was AP Chemistry. Would you please tell us which one was really your favorite?

Also, what was the reason women actually wanted to lose their virginity to you if it wasn't for your "smarts"? Just casually curious.

Hugs,
Elisabeth