Monique

I’m a math and science enthusiast who loves turning confusing concepts into “aha!” moments. I work with students from early elementary through college, and with over 15 years of tutoring experience, a math minor, and an M.S. in Chemistry, I smile often because learning and teaching naturally bring a smile to my face. Confidence is key, and I aim to build that alongside my students’ technical knowledge.

Tutoring Style

I focus on building student confidence by making challenging subjects approachable and enjoyable. I adapt to each student’s pace, whether that’s slowing down to make sure they really understand or speeding up when they’re ready to move ahead. I also enjoy weaving in real-world examples to show students that what they’re learning isn’t just homework and to help them see how what they’re learning connects to everyday life. Above all, I aim to inspire students to believe in their own ability to learn and think critically, so they can succeed both in and beyond the classroom.

Success Story

During my first year as an online tutor, I worked with a student who faced significant challenges due to prolonged hospitalization early in her sophomore year. She returned to school far behind in math and was tasked with simultaneously taking Geometry and Algebra II, despite having a shaky foundation in Algebra I. Recognizing her unique situation, I adapted by essentially becoming her full-time math teacher, creating customized lesson plans and worksheets to support her learning at home. By the end of her junior year, she had mastered the material, aced her assessments, and even referred her friends to me for tutoring. Today, she is changing lives as a brilliant teacher, and I could not be more proud. I reminisce on this experience often, and it affirms the heart of my approach: to help students build self-confidence through academics.

I was a General Chemistry TA in college and remember students being in a bit of a panic about an upcoming exam covering electrochemistry topics. To help ease their stress, I offered additional office hours in order to focus on each student’s knowledge gaps. We took each concept step-by-step, using a relay race analogy and demonstrating with a potato battery. I offered real-world examples, like how redox principles power everything from phone batteries to renewable energy storage. By the end, students were confidently solving redox problems and earned good grades on their exams. One student even switched his major to chemistry after passing the course!

Hobbies & Interests

When I’m not tutoring, I enjoy visiting my local library to read or just to be surrounded by all of the books, watching trash TV and gossiping about it with my dog, and completing clear acrylic puzzles.