Kolo
Certified Tutor
I am a graduate of The University of Northern Colorado, earning a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics. I am passionate about facilitating understanding, as demonstrated by a culminated 5 years of teaching and tutoring experience. My experience is reflected by working with diverse populations of students of various levels, ranging from elementary to collegiate.
After graduating from Kamehameha High School in 2011, I decided to take the time to find my life path. In the following academic year, I took up a job opportunity with the Special Education Department at Hawaii Technology Academy. This full time position not only provided me with valuable working experience with diverse learners; the experience helped me to realize my passion for Educational Mathematics. This new-found passion inspired my journey to the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) to further study Mathematics and Education. During my freshman year at UNC I as hired by the Northern Colorado Upward Bound Program as a Mathematics tutor. This position gave me valuable tutoring and life experience in working with a population of "at-risk" high school students for four years. Now having earned my Bachelors of Science in Mathematics, I look to create visual and practical ways to teach mathematics as I attempt to revolutionize the Educational Mathematics World.
My creative, personal, and passionate nature sets me apart in the world of Educational Mathematics. I am a specialist in building mathematical confidence and I am positive that I will be an effective educator for your educational needs.
If you like to learn from fun and optimistic individuals I am your tutor!
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Northern Colorado - Current Undergrad, Mathematics
Surfing, snowboarding, submission grappling, hula, fishing.
What is your teaching philosophy?
Facilitating thinking, speaking and living mathematically.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Develop a mutual level of trust and comfort.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
By encouraging students to learn about oneself and set goals based on personal interests. Motivation comes through the desire to achieve these goals.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
By continuously demonstrating myself as an independent learner and leading by example.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
I would first find the square root of the problem. Then build a foundation of knowledge in the individual student. I would finish by creatively drawing paths between the knowledge base and the difficult skill or concept.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I make enunciation a point and assure that the jargon heavy math language didn't weigh down the student's reading.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Building a connection between the student and myself so that I can hear things from their perspective. This helps me to use art to bridge the gap between our varied mathematics knowledge base.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
By drawing from my natural excitement for the mathematics subject (which is all of mathematics).
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Assessing their knowledge by asking deep questions.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
By providing genuine carrots along the path of understanding.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
By creatively using art through examples and my own experiences.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
Drawing, diagrams, graphs, tables are essential. I also find it helpful to have a calculator, Google, and a cup of coffee handy.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
By asking the student to demonstrate necessary math concepts through the asking of questions.