There is no one-size-fits-all formula that will guarantee success, every time, for every student, in every subject. Problems arise in math and science classes because the presentation a teacher uses in front of a class of 25 students does not actually work for every individual learner. And usually there is a world of difference between the way a textbook (or a video) describes a topic and the way the mind actually applies the idea to a problem on paper. All the students I encounter have their own strengths, weaknesses, and background knowledge that give rise to a unique set of learning needs.

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  • “ Joe has the patience and ability to explain math and science concepts that most teachers can't or don't have the time to. ”
    — Mary, Glenview
  • “ I was pleased with how flexible you were coming out to the house at all hours, always being prompt and never rushing out if she needed some extra time. ”
    — HB, Highland Park
  • “ No matter how confused I was in class, after a session with Joe I felt like I knew everything. ”
    — James D, Park Ridge
  • “ Joe is very patient and knowledgable. It's great that you can use him for two subjects which is very hard to find at the high school level. ”
    — Lori S, Northbrook
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As a one-on-one tutor, I try to be as REACTIVE as possible to the student in front of me. This means that I observe what the student already can do, and tailor my instruction to build on whatever understanding is already there. Sometimes it means backing up to correct ingrained mistakes before moving forward to the night’s homework. Sometimes it means laying out a big-picture overview to show how all the topics in a chapter fit together. Sometimes it means designing brand new problem-solving rules that flow out of the way the student naturally thinks about the subject.

In every case, one of my strengths as a tutor is quickly finding WHAT WORKS. My students are often surprised by how confident they feel about the material after one of our sessions, when it seemed so overwhelming earlier in the day. That *CLICK* moment when the eyes light up and everything falls into place is the most satisfying part of my job.