Jacob

I am a math professor with nearly 30 years of experience in math education. I have an education degree. I'm from Kansas City originally, where I got my masters degree from UMKC. I tutor math for grade 7 through graduate school.

Tutoring Style

My teaching style is very student-centered. I make space for students to achieve on their own, providing support as necessary. One of the biggest obstacles students have to overcome is a lack of trust in their own capabilities, so I prioritize confidence building and engineer scenarios where the student can be the solution.

Success Story

I can recall a student I tutored in statistics. She lacked the confidence to engage with the content and felt completely overwhelmed. She had already failed the course twice before and seeking a tutor was an act of desperation. By starting small and keeping things conversational at first, I encouraged her to think of herself as someone who could answer math questions. As she became more confident, she was able to complete more of her assignments on her own, and she was able to finish the course with a B. She transferred to CSU Dominguez Hills after that to pursue a degree in child development, but she actually expressed interest in taking additional math courses.

Hobbies & Interests

I'm a big fan of stories, either reading them or watching them on TV. I also like to investigate some of the rich food culture that's available in the San Gabriel Valley.