Rebecca

I have 20 years of experience teaching mathematics, 18 in high school and two in middle school. I began tutoring in 1997 and have taught and tutored a wide variety of levels, subjects, and abilities, from elementary to college. I can effectively motivate students with IEPs and just as easily challenge honors students to excel even further, as well as support everyone in between. I served as Department Chair for five years and am skilled at and value open communication with parents.

Tutoring Style

Many students find math to be their least favorite subject and believe they are “bad at math” and “can’t do math.” I work hard to dispel those beliefs by building a rapport with my students. It is important for students to have confidence in themselves to be successful, and as they find success, their confidence increases. I break down concepts into accessible steps and clearly explain topics in a manner that is understandable and relatable to students, followed by practice to solidify concepts.

Success Story

My very first year of teaching was in a stressful environment with significant pressure to get students to pass the New York State Regents in June. I had a student who hated math and hated school. For the first half of the school year, he never participated in class, never did his homework, and failed every assessment. His mother attended a conference with me mid-year, and she told me her son was very astute at reading people and liked me as a teacher. Despite what I thought was a failure on my part, my teaching style ultimately allowed him to begin to access his potential and reinforced my belief in the values I brought to my students: a positive work ethic and a belief in one's own abilities. He concluded the year with a C+ and passed the Regents.

Hobbies & Interests

I enjoy cooking, crafts, reading, skiing, and spending time with my family and our dog. We enjoy taking vacations to visit family and attending live sporting events, especially soccer.