3 Fun Questions From Moms About Tutoring

Mom #1
My son is starting to scare me because he isn't doing his school work. This is a lot like someone else in my house. What should I do?

This is actually a really great question. Usually moms get frustrated with boys when their bad behavior reminds them of the person they are, or were married to for many years. There is no simple answer to this question, but here are a few tricks that work.

1) Own that you are upset with your husband. We are men it is in our DNA to do annoying things. If we didn't then we wouldn't need women to help us see the right path. Talk it out with your husband and ask him if he would like to try to handle the issue. Don't be surprised if he jumps at the chance.

2) Ask the child directly if he knows who else in the house does that same behavior? When he answers correctly tell him to go talk to the dad. Tell the child to ask the dad what happens to him when he gets caught with this behavior.

3) Use the phrase, "I wish you the best of luck with that behavior."

Once the humor breaks up the tension then simply ask them what they are struggling with tyring to learn. This is when you can jump in and help.

Mom #2
The person who teaches my daughter is a moron. What should I do?

The first thing you should do is let your daughter know that her problem is real and not her fault.

Second remember we can't change morons. If someone could they would be rich and never out of work. The moron won't see it because they are stuck in a mindset of "I'm right and everyone else is wrong." We all get caught in this trap during our lives.

Third is of course the massively used word - acceptance. Acceptance does not mean inaction.

Fourth create an action plan with your child where interacting with this person becomes a fun game between the two of you. You want to be the safe and loving place for them to land. You want your daughter running to you with the story of the moron. Then ask your daughter what was the moron trying to teach you today. Let me see if I can help you.

Fifth go shopping, or eating.

Mom #3
Why are they giving my child so much homework?

Simple. Teachers are teaching to the test. This means during class time they briefly go over the subject during class and shift the learning process to the student. We all know how crazy making this can be.

The best solution is to sit with your child and make sure they are understanding the core concept versus doing busy work. With math for example what is the concept behind a word problem? It is a game to see if you know what words mean addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Bottom line try your best to make each annoying homework assignment into a fun project. Your child simply wants to connect with you. Don't always do homework at home. Go to a coffee shop, mall or other hangout place. Enjoy it rather than making it a trip to the dentist.

Send your questions to mathttuor.roger@gmail.com

STAR Scores

These past few weeks parents have been getting STAR Scores for their children. STAR is an acronym in California for Standardized Testing And Reporting. The official State website is located at http://star.cde.ca.gov/

These reports are not always accurate. A parent can be left more confused about their child after viewing the report.

The math component is the most important. A child that increases their math score automatically move up on the other test elements. This is much less common if the language componets increase.

It appears this happens because the children are more focused on multi-step problems.

If you need a free analysis of the STAR Score for your child email roger@rogerthemathtutor.com

What Is Algebra?

Algebra is basically a collision between the alphabet and numbers.

We go along for years just having to deal with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9.  Then all of a sudden we got an X, Y, N and other letters crashing the party.

In its simplest form we are just trying to find something.  The something is always a letter which ultimately becomes a number.

Algebra is about relationships.  When one number does something to another number it has an affect.  Just like if a person does something to another person it has either a positive, negative or neutral outcome.

People that are good at relationships and social settings usually do well in Algebra because they like the journey of how things are connected.

People that are not good in relationships usually do superior in Algebra because they enjoy observing people without actually interacting with them.

When people find a challenge in Algebra it is usually because there is a new concept being introduced.  

When you see a set of numbers and letters like X - 6 = 3 that is the new concept.  If someone explains to you that this is "just a PUZZLE" then you get it.  There are two pieces of the puzzle that we know ( 6 & 3).  In order to complete the PUZZLE we have to find X.  In this case X is 9 and that completes the PUZZLE.  The concept is "WE ARE SOLVING A PUZZLE."  Then every time you see one of these you enjoy it if YOU LIKE SOLVING PUZZLES.

What To Watch For ...

If your child is struggling with something in ALGEBRA first find out if the ACTUAL CONCEPT was ever TAUGHT.

All math is learned first and then becomes intuitive over a period of time.

Tips For Parents

I find when parents have to help their kids with math it brings up lots of issues.  If the parent was not good at math during school then it is even harder to support the child.  This is an opportunity for you as a parent to heal any bad math experience you encountered.

MATH IS BASICALLY 4 THINGS

• Growing a number by ADDING
• Reducing a number by SUBTRACTING
• Expanding a number by MULTIPLICATION
• Distributing a number by DIVISION

Regardless of the complexity of a word or math formula these are the only 4 things we really ever do.

Even in a complex math problem all we are doing is using a combination of those four things.

When you hit a wall with a problem ask yourself which one of the four basic things am I to do next?  That is how we get the answer.

This is true whether the language of the number is a whole number, a fraction, a percentage 

My Math Story & Approach (Correct, Connect & Collect)

My Math Story

I was always good at math as a kid, but the truth is I hid this because it was not cool. I would always test well, but I never really wanted anyone to know I was good at math. It just did not seem like something that would be very cool.

I was also a fat kid at this time. I already had the being picked on as a fat kid under control, but to add "good at math" on top of that? Forget it.

Somewhere along the way I got taller and lost the weight. In high school my Algebra teacher made me an offer. I could do whatever I wanted during math class and he would give me an A if I joined the math club.

I agreed under two conditions. 1. Nobody could know I was in the math club and 2. Nobody could know I was in the math club.

He agreed.

The problem arose after the Math Club Team went to the State competition. A few weeks after the competition the teacher informed me that he had some good news and some bad news. The good news was I finished 5th in the Ohio State Math Competition. The bad news was everyone would know I was in the Math club.

My Approach To Tutoring Kids & Math

CORRECT
I find out how their math teacher missed passing on the skill set to them?
This is the first wall that has to be broken down. If we don't break this down then as a parent the cycle will never end.

CONNECT
Math then has to be connected to something they are excited about in the world. This can be anything from a sport to shopping at American Girl. Everything in the world has a math componet attached to it and that is the key. We all have to learn math whether we want to, or not.

COLLECT
Fun. It has to be fun. Once it is fun then we all collect the results.

Keys To Success

For a math tutor to be effective with your child they must connect on the following levels.

1. You must feel comfortable with them because you are trusting them to your child. Nothing is more important than your kid.

2. The child must connect with the tutor. This isn't just about math. This is about opening up the desire of the child to LEARN something NEW.

3. It must be fun.

4. The parent must participate to the best of their ability.

Does Your Child Need A Math Tutor?

Is your child in need of a MATH TUTOR?

Did you know that most kids do not really have a problem with math?

If they are not introduced to math in a creative way then they will shut down. Most teachers simply DO NOT HAVE TIME.

I tutor in a way that allows you as a PARENT to PARTICIPATE and take the PAIN out of doing HOMEWORK.

The service is $40 per hour + Travel Expenses (Los Angeles Area)
Webcam rates are $40 per hour (Outside Los Angeles)

Most students only need 3-5 sessions to get on track. The key is not to get them addicted to tutoring, but to open up their own abilities to do the work.

I have a 100% money back guarantee after the first session. If you are not satisfied all money is returned. No questions asked.

All ages.

Test Prep is also available.

Email mathtutor.roger@gmail.com or call 310-492-3121 and ask for Roger