Ben
Certified Tutor
I am a teacher in the St. Louis area who loves helping others understand difficult math and business concepts. I am state certified to teach middle school mathematics and have extensive experience with Common Core Standards in middle school mathematics. I am in my third year of teaching, so I have experience with an array of methods of teaching both in general as well as explaining and instructing students on specific skills. From my experience, I have learned that students learn best when they understand big concepts, so I constantly try to show students how big concepts tie into real world experiences that they care about. I have been doing small group tutoring for over two years now with students at my school and prefer to tutor in the areas of math and test prep. I draw on my undergraduate degree in finance and my master's degree in middle school mathematics in order to help clients understand concepts in deep meaningful ways. When I am not teaching, I like finding new restaurants, traveling, and hanging out with my dog.
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Undergraduate Degree: Creighton University - Bachelors, Financial Analysis and Economics
Graduate Degree: University of Missouri-St Louis - Masters, Secondary Education
- ACT Math: 32
- ACT Reading: 31
I love to travel, try new restaurants, and go on runs and hikes with my dog.
- Accounting
- ACT Math
- ACT Science
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- Business
- College Accounting
- College Algebra
- College Business
- Finance
- Financial Accounting
- High School Accounting
- High School Business
- Homework Support
- MAP Prep
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Other
- Pre-Algebra
- Special Education
- Test Prep
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I think by focusing on whatever our goal is, we can work together in order to set some goals along the way, so that students can see success as we go.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I think if a student is struggling, it is important that we try multiple methods in order to try to help them understand a difficult skill or concept.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
I think it is important to show the use of a skill in the real world and how mastering a subject area can help them reach a goal they have.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
In order to ensure that a student understands a concept, I think it is important to see if they can describe the key ideas of the concept, and give justification for how they know those ideas are true.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
In order to build confidence, I think we should find how we can use our areas of strength, and incorporate them into our learning of a concept that maybe we struggle more with.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I think by talking to the student, along with using diagnostics, it can help us determine what they need help with and what are the items they are struggling with.
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is that you need to understand and focus on the large underlying concepts in order to be able to build up your general mastery of a subject.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I typically talk to them in order to figure out their needs. After doing this, I think it is important for me to see how the student works through the material by having them complete some problems and explain their thinking to me.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I think by teaching students skills and methods for learning, it will help them learn when they are working on a topic on their own.