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News & Updates
Tutoring
August 19, 2019
Home Tutor for Spanish
There are numerous benefits to having a home tutor for Spanish. Many students fall behind in their Spanish courses. This is very challenging because Spanish is a cumulative subject. In addition, once the teacher and class begin speaking entirely in Spanish it is nearly impossible to continue learning anything if you are behind. Spanish teachers naturally focus on the most gifted students, compounding the problem.
Spanish is one of the hardest languages to learn. Spanish is uniquely challenging when students fall behind because the course is conversational in nature. This causes extreme embarrassment. If a student doesn’t understand the material, it is readily apparent to everyone.
I remember when I was trying to learn Spanish. I was way behind everyone else. I had no idea what was going on. And it showed. To compound this problem, my accent was terrible. It sounded like the classic white-American version. Other kids laughed at me and teased me because. This decreased my desire to participate and learn. And this caused me to do even worse in the course! I even stopped attending many of the classes because I couldn’t stand the continual rounds of failure and embarrassment.
The Benefits of a Home Tutor for Spanish
Wow! How I wish that I would have had a home tutor for Spanish. That would have been so helpful. I could have practiced with my home tutor and learned Spanish in a safe and protected environment, before having to venture out into class to test my newfound skills. That’s why I think having a home tutor for Spanish is uniquely important. It can help students boost their confidence at a skill that inherently leaves people vulnerable. Students need to feel safe when they are learning. That is a core need that needs to be met for learning to place. But many students simply don’t feel comfortable in a traditional Spanish classroom. That’s why having a home tutor for Spanish can be an excellent supplement to traditional methods of instruction.
The bottom line is that learning any foreign language is extremely challenging. Sometimes students need every advantage they can get. A home tutor for Spanish can provide the following benefits:
Personalized Education
Decades of research shows that who you are influences how you learn languages. There are several factors that influence a person’s ability to successfully acquire a second language. A student’s attitude and motivation are paramount in learning. In addition, a person’s cognitive style, age, and personality all play key roles. This is one key reason why hiring a home tutor for Spanish is so important: they can help you create a customized personal learning program that suits your learning needs and strengths best. Having a home tutor allows you to leverage your strengths and skills.
A lot of classroom-based learning fails because learning a second language is such a personal thing. How you learn depends on your personality. In most courses, this hinders learning. One-on-one home tutoring changes this.
Develop Spanish Speaking Skills
Learning to speak Spanish is arguably the most vital skill a student of the language can possibly develop. You simply have to be able to speak the language to improve at it. There are many factors at play here. Learning strong oral communication skills requires the ability to listen to and accurately hear the right words. Students then have to be able to quickly formulate a response, and then be able to articulate it. Often, the biggest barrier to being conversational in Spanish is lacking the proper accent. Mispeaking words by even a small amount can change the entire meaning of the sentence.
If you or your child is enrolled in a large Spanish class, the small errors that they are making either go largely unnoticed by the teacher. If they do notice, they likely simply don’t have the time or energy to correct them. Working with a home tutor for Spanish is one solution to this problem. A home Spanish tutor can focus in on the student, effortlessly hearing these small errors, and swiftly moving to correct them. These errors in pronunciation can be corrected through practice and focus and through correct modeling.
Increase Listening Comprehension
Most Spanish courses work by teaching students sets and chunks of words. They teach students large lists of vocabulary words. They also teach students verbs that pair well with them. Then they work on constructing sentences, paragraphs, and longer blocks of text and speech.
But this isn’t how conversation works. Conversations are fluid. Native speakers don’t learn Spanish the way we do. Speaking Spanish naturally is more complex and nuanced than the simplified versions packaged for us nicely in school. These are good introductory building blocks to learn. But they never help you truly master a language. Mastery comes through practice. That’s why speaking with conversational partners is one of the most valuable things you can do to learn Spanish. Home tutors are great partners because they speak Spanish fluently and are also well-versed in teaching, communication, and psychology.
Improve Spanish Accent
Most American students develop a really bad, unnatural sounding Spanish accent because they are never taught the proper way to speak. This has undoubtedly caused a lot of pain, embarrassment, and frustration over the years. However, rest assured, there are a few tricks you can learn in order to improve your Spanish accent. Many of these skills and tricks a home tutor could help you with.
One important thing is to learn how to correctly pronounce vowels. Most teachers gloss over this or move too quickly past it. But these are vitally important to learn! Another Spanish accent trick is to learn and speak your “T’s” and “D’s” more softly. Many Americans speak the “T” very harshly. This is done by placing the tip of your tongue on the tip-top of your mouth. However, most Spanish speakers don’t speak this way. They speak their T’s much more softly. They usually place their tongue on their front teeth, soothing the sound. There are countless little tricks like this to optimize. That’s something they certainly never taught me in class!
Learn Important Spanish Verbs / Verb Conjugations
Not all verbs were created equal. In fact, each level of Spanish that is taught in school has certain verbs which are critically important to master. For example, in beginning Spanish, some of the most important verbs to master are Ser and Estar. These verbs also become more nuanced as you move into higher levels of Spanish. Tener and Haber are also really important verbs to know.
And just as important as learning the verbs themselves is to be able to conjugate those verbs effectively and efficiently. Actually, most courses take the approach that in order to learn Spanish students simply need to memorize long lists of verbs. And so students begin to believe that they need to memorize all the verbs before they can start “truly” speaking Spanish. But this is false. It’s actually more important to be able to use (conjugate) a few key verbs extremely well and accurately than it is to memorize hundreds of verbs that are rarely used.
Learning Spanish Benefits the Brain
There is a lot of research being done these days on how the development of a second language impacts brain function. Studies show that people who are bilingual are better able to focus on assignments and tasks. They have higher levels of concentration and a better ability to focus in on the important details of what really matters. In addition, they are also better able to switch *between* tasks and are thus better at multi-tasking and synthesizing together ideas from different fields. People who are bilingual have also been shown to have better decision-making skills. They make more rational choices. They also have better stronger memories. They are better able to accurately recall information. People who are bilingual also have a decreased risk for developing dementia. Fundamentally—the research is clear—learning Spanish is good for your brain. It will help you succeed in all of your other subjects. No subject exists in isolation. These are some of the indirect benefits you or your student can gain from hiring a home tutor for Spanish language acquisition.
Improve Your SAT and ACT Scores
I know, it sounds crazy—right? You are probably thinking, Eric, last time I checked Spanish wasn’t on the SAT! You’re right, of course it’s not! Still, the research is clear: learning Spanish helps improve SAT scores and a student’s overall ability to score higher on any standardized testing. This is because a significant amount of evidence shows that learning a foreign language will actually improve a students English. Other studies and suverys have found that bilingual students have higher science exam scores and generally develop a better understanding of mathematics. This illustrates that all courses are connected. Learning one subject will help your child develop the skills to succeed in another.
These have been just some of the benefits that can come from hiring a home tutor for Spanish. There are countless other benefits that come from working with a one-on-one tutor for Spanish. If this is a subject that you or your student is struggling in, then home tutoring is something you might consider. Another reason might be if your child is simply curious about Spanish and wants to learn it. Or it might be that you think Spanish will be a great subject for them to know someday. These are all perfectly great reasons for you to encourage home Spanish tutoring for your child.
August 18, 2019
Tutors In Portland, Oregon
Are you looking for tutors in Portland, Oregon? The first step in looking for tutors in Portland is to know exactly what type of subjects you are interested in and also what goals and objectives you would have for any tutoring program. Portland has a very diverse set of schools and curriculum. In addition, there are many different types of tutors and tutoring organizations in Portland.
Different Options for Findings Tutors in Portland, Oregon:
1. You can always find a tutor on craigslist. This is a great idea if you are looking for a low-cost tutoring method. This is a more involved process because it would be a good idea to meet with the tutor before you have them work with your child. It would also be smart to test and see how well they know the given subject. Normally, I would only recommend working with someone off craigslist if you can verify they have a track record of successful tutoring experiences. You can also find a tutor on a website such as care.com. However, it would be smart to do your due diligence here as there have been some recent media articles highlighting concerns with care.com.
2. You can find online tutors. Online tutoring is always an option. There are many good options for this. Varsity tutors has online tutoring available. There are also websites like Wyzant. I know people who have tutored for these organizations. However, even with the rush towards everything online, most families that I know still prefer to have tutoring happen in-person. I prefer it for myself, too. I’ve been studying a lot of organic chemistry recently because I am applying for medical school soon, and I personally use in-person tutors here in Portland, Oregon when I need help. It feels so much more tangible and real and dynamic to have a tutor who is there with you in-person.
3. Another option is to find a local tutoring company. I like local tutoring companies because they are normally founded by someone who is originally from the area and knows the different local school systems. In addition, smaller companies just make sense when it comes to tutoring. I think the entire problem with education is that it has become too commercialized and too mass-market. Classroom sizes are too large. The curriculum is dictated by “common core standards” and students are taught and tested based on standardized metrics. I think that smaller, local tutoring companies are better able to customize and tailor specialized learning programs for individual families.
Other Factors to Consider When Looking for Tutors in Portland, Oregon:
Aside from where to find a good tutor, there are many other factors to consider when looking for tutors in Portland, Oregon.
1. It’s important to think about the tutor’s long-term plan and goals. One big complaint that we hear all the time from families is that they have trouble finding a reliable tutor in Portland. This is because tutoring is normally a short-term part-time job. This is because tutors are normally younger, and often still in college. There is some work that needs to be done here because often times college students make great tutors. These tutors are down-to-earth and relate very easily to students. We have found that they key distinction is determining the motivations of the tutor. We search for tutors who are motivated intrinsically to teach. We want tutors who are passionate about their subject and will go above and beyond to make sure the message gets across. We are not interested in tutors who just view tutoring as a job or as a way to make some money. These tutors are unreliable and more short-term in nature. We have discovered through experience that tutors who are passionate about their subject and about teaching tend to go the extra-mile and stick around for many years.
2. Look for local tutors!!! We cannot stress this enough. We have learned over the years that local tutors are effective because they grew up in the area and often attended some of the local schools. This means that they are likely to have connections with local teachers and within local school systems. But even more importantly, they understand the local standards and curriculum. This is important because expectations for students vary by state, city, and even school districts. For example, not all states use common core. But school districts within Portland, Oregon use the common core standards heavily.
3. Find tutors who are passionate about education and who stay up to date on the most recent trends in education. This is incredibly important. Education is changing all the time. We read about different states changing their education standards nearly every year. Within any given year it is common for 10+ states to change and adjust their mathematics or reading standards. The bottom line is that education is changing all the time. For example, New York recently reported that they will be moving away from the common core standard and towards a “next generation” learning standard. At Tutor Portland, we are constantly researching what might happen next with regards to the state of education in Portland, Oregon. We are on top of this so that you don’t have to be. We do it because we love this stuff! Education and learning are fascinating. And we want to do our part to make learning more accessible to all students.
Finding Tutors for Students at Portland Public Schools (PPS):
Some families aren’t a fan of Portland Public Schools. And we get it. Any public school system is bound to have some problems and issues. But there are several things that PPS does very well. Expert tutors (often local tutors) know and understand well how to work within the Portland Public School system in Portland, Oregon. PPS publishes many tools and resources for students, families, and educators on their website. For example, Portland Public Schools mandate that all teachers publish their syllabi online in an easy to find and read format. Tools like these help students and parents. They also help tutors who are better able to track a student’s progress and help them over the course of the school term.
Tutors for Private Schools in Portland, Oregon:
There are many great private schools located in Portland, Oregon. Some of them have their own tutoring on staff. And others offer tutoring to their students for an additional fee. But we have found that many private schools don’t have tutors available, or the ones they do aren’t satisfactory. Private schools in Portland, Oregon definitely have different standards and expectations than the Portland Public School system does. So when you’re for tutors in Portland it’s a good idea to find tutors who know the local area and understand the differences among the schools here. And the differences between the private schools here are pretty found. We like this guide as a breakdown of the top 20 private schools in Portland, Oregon. As you can see, these schools have a wide variation in their “grade” or ranking, and also in their cost.
What are some of the top private schools in Portland? There are smaller schools located in downtown Portland such as the Northwest Academy. Oregon Episcopal School, OES, is a very well known and highly regarded school in Portland. We have tutored a number of clients at OES, and have often donated to their school auction in previous years. There is also All Saints School, which is located in inner SE Portland. We have also worked with several families who have students attending La Salle Catholic College Prepatory School. La Salle is a co-ed roman catholic school. There are countless other private schools. They all have a slightly different way of running their schools and their academic departments. They have varying educational standards and they teach some of the core subjects like math and science in separate ways. Looking for a private tutor who understand these differences is a very wise choice!
Finding Tutors in Portland, Oregon for a Homeschooling Program
Homeschooling in Oregon is a pretty straightforward idea to get started with. Legally, the barriers to entry for a parent to start their child on a homeschooling program are pretty low. You simply need to register your student with your local ESD. You can do this by sending the ESD a simple letter stating your intent to enroll your student / child in a home learning program. You then have free range what you wish to teach your student. However, this is the bare minimum that you should do. Most parents attempt to find activites and chances for interaction and collaboration for their child. We have had several families, therefore, ask us about creating programs for their children who are being homeschooled. Often the student will spend the first part of their day reading and involved in self-directed learning. This means that they are engaged in their own learning and focused on things they are intrinsically motivated to learn and improve at. As the day progresses, the parents may want them to take some formal lessons. They might take their child to music lessons. There is one program we like a lot called Trackers Earth, and many parents choose to send their children there to learn great skills such as blacksmithing, animal tracking, and a wide variety of other cool and useful outdoor skills.
Often families then have a tutor come in for a few hours per day. We normally assist with subjects like reading and mathematics because these can be challenging subjects to master for some students. Normally, families that are homeschooling choose to opt for our Unlimited Tutoring Membership. Essentially, this is exactly what it sounds like. We have a no-limits approach to tutoring and to the time we can spend with your child. We have always had this as an option since we were founded right here in Portland, Oregon in 2015 – by me, Eric M Earle, a proud Portland native.
Finding Tutors in Portland for Other Programs
There are many other learning and educational goals that can be assisted through the use of an in-home tutor. For example, we have a specific math tutoring program for families who are located in Portland, Oregon. This is our most commonly used program because – let’s face it – math is hard! We have found it is one of the subjects that students most benefit from having help with. Having a math tutor is a big boost!
Another popular program is our pre-medical program. This program is geared towards seniors in high school as well as college students or post-graduate students. We focus on several things in this program. We have a core curriculum that includes intensive tutoring for any math or science courses. We focus primarily on these courses because mastering the concepts in these courses is critical for successful applications to medical school. It is also critically important to earn high grades in these courses. We do not accept anything less than an A. Neither should you. On top of this, we also assist with English, Sociology, Psychology or any other courses that your student might be enrolled in because these are very important, too. And they are becoming increasingly more important with each passing application cycle. In addition, we also help with overall strategy for acceptance into medical school. We help students focus on their purpose and their mission. This focus is *critical* for acceptance into great medical schools. We assist, therefore, with overall game plan and strategy. What jobs should I work? What type of volunteering should I do? What type of reflective writing should I do to start preparing for my medical school applications? We help with all of this and so much more.
We also have specific programs which have been created and shaped for each grade level: high school, middle school, and elementary school. We also have a program for adult tutoring. In addition to these age-specific programs, we also offer summer tutoring programs.
Thanks for much for choosing to read through our website and for your time reading this article. We really appreciate you and we would love to have the opportunity to serve you. We focus on being the most customer centric tutoring company ever known! It is our mission to serve you – to make sure that you are happy and fulfilled and that you are confident in the future of your child. We know that children are the most important and precious things in the world. We treasure that special relationship. And we work very hard to ensure academic success for even the most challenging and difficult circumstances. Thanks! We hope you are having a fantastic day.
Enthusiastically,
Eric M Earle
Founder and Owner, Tutor Portland (est. 2015)
July 25, 2019
Portland Math Tutor
The Benefits Of Hiring A Portland Math Tutor
Only around 25% of children in America are meeting the standard proficiency levels for math. Parents with children who are struggling to keep up in their math classes know firsthand just how frustrating it can be for both themselves and their children. At first, most parents take the approach of helping teach their children alone. Unfortunately, this is not always the best approach and most parents can only help so much because of their limited knowledge. It takes more than know-how to effectively teach a student properly.
The solution to a struggling student is to hire a math tutor in Portland. There are many benefits of offering the gift of a personal tutor to your child when they are struggling in their classes. If you are on the fence, below are some of the advantages to be gained from using a Portland math tutor.
More Confidence in Math And Learning
One of the best benefits of hiring a tutor for your child is it will help boost their confidence levels. As a parent who loves their children, a few minor mistakes on tests or a couple of low scores might not seem so bad. However, there is a lot of pressure for students these days to get great scores on all tests in order to get into the classes and schools they want.
All kids make mistakes, but when you have a child making numerous mistakes and they don’t understand how they keep making them, it can become very frustrating and their confidence levels will take a hit. They may become hesitant to ask questions or speak up for help in fear they will be made fun of or made to feel less capable than other students.
Tutors can help make the subject of math more fun for your child and less intimidating. Time spent with a professional tutor will give your child the confidence they need to keep trying. It can give your child a great foundation for the future.
One-On-One Attention
You have the option of choosing an online tutor or an in-person tutor. No matter which choice you go with, your child will be getting one-on-one attention. Teachers in school do not have the time to devote attention to each child in their classes. Because of this, some children end up suffering the consequences. Even if your child’s math teacher offers extra help after school, it still may not be enough to make a difference. A tutor will be able to give them full attention and effectively identify where they are having issues understanding their coursework.
This type of help rarely happens inside a classroom. Teachers simply don’t have the time or motivation to help their students individually. They are focused on other things. They miss the individual trees and instead see the forest. They are too focused on deadlines, exams, and ensuring they are on track with their common core standards. In addition, more teachers are burned out and underpaid. They lack real and true motivation to help your child learn.
In addition, we have found that it’s the students who struggle with math who most need and most benefit from having one-on-one individually personalized tutoring.
Improve Grades and Test Scores in Math
Low test scores are often an indication of a lack of motivation or a lack of understanding. When you hire a tutor, they will be able to help your child with both of these issues. Everyone learns a little differently. Tutors are able to learn about the student and find ways to help them according to how they learn for the best results. Over time, test scores and grades will improve. This is essential for preparing your children for important standardized tests in the future. Math is critical to do well on the ACT and the SAT. And it’s also important for other exams. Does your child want to attend business school? The GRE and GMAT both require extensive mathematics. In addition, famously, the MCAT does not allow students to use a calculator.
Develop A Growth Mindset
Many students believe that they “suck at math” or that they simply can’t learn it. Often times, these students have a fixed mindset when it comes to learning subjects like math and science. Having a fixed mindset is a type of attitude. People who are fixed in their mindset believe that their skills are locked in place. They falsely believe that no matter the amount of effort they put in, they are doomed to fail. Therefore, they wrongly conclude, they might as well not even try. When they earn a D or F, they think “I’m stupid.” This internalizes the failure. They think it is part of their being or their essence.
On the other hand, students who develop a growth mindset believe that they can learn anything they set their mind to. If they happen to get a D, they would think something like: “Wow—that really stinks. I must not have studied hard enough for that exam. Next time I will step it up.” They realize that often time learning “failures” are simply a result of having the wrong strategy.
Working closely with a trusted tutor is important because it can help develop a growth mindset within the student. This can radiate out to every area of their life.
Help Them Learn The Most Important Subject
A Gallup poll showed that Americans rank mathematics as being the most valuable and beneficial subject in their lives. There has been a big push these days to teach more communication, arts, and English skills in schools. These skills are really important. And they should be taught. However, the data here show that students value mathematics. This is likely becoming more and more prevalent as the world moves towards an increasing focus on STEM-related fields and businesses. Hiring a tutor can help your child learn this valuable subject!
Ease Of Transition
When children have to change schools due to a move, it can have a significant impact on their studies. The new school may not be following the same math learning schedule your child was getting used to. This can cause confusion and difficulty for your child to acclimate. The trouble with their classwork can be made exasperated by the pressures of being the new kid in class. A tutor can help them behind the scenes to transition easier into their new math class. They can quickly be caught up if they are behind and helped to understand concepts that were missed out on while moving from one school to another. Your child will be able to start off on the right foot at their new school.
Improve Mathematical Reasoning
Hiring a math tutor can help your child develop their mathematical reasoning skills. These skills are thought to be the glue that binds all math and science subjects together. Mathematical reasoning is the ability to think about, understand, and explain reasoning about math problems. These skills are vital because often in math there is not one single solution. There are often multiple ways to solve complex problems. Students who have strong mathematical reasoning skills are able to see this and analyze problems before they attempt to solve them. Becoming a strong mathematical reasoner is also crucial to developing independence as a mathematical thinker. It allows students to see patterns in the problems that they encounter.
Encourage Strong Interdisciplinary Skill & Thinking
Mathematics is a special discipline because the core concepts in math are interdisciplinary, they are very useful in other fields. To the majority of students, math is an abstract concept that they will “never use in real life.” One benefit of working with a tutor is that the student can learn interdisciplinary thinking. At Tutor Portland, our tutors are all well-versed in mathematics, science, and other subjects as well. This means they are able to relate key concepts and ideas between subjects and incorporate those into their lesson plans.
Tutors can teach students that math isn’t only important during 50 minute periods throughout the week. Math is important all the time. You can use math to think about concepts in other fields. And other fields are starting to realize this. Many professional degrees and programs are now requiring applicants to have a strong interdisciplinary background.
Prepare Your Student for a Great Career
Many of the best—the most meaningful, well-paid, and highest status—careers require mathematics. Becoming a doctor requires high levels of math in order to succeed in subjects like general chemistry and general physics, and in order to do well on the MCAT. Engineers also need to be highly skilled in math. Any science field requires math. People high in the realms of computer science require mathematics. Statistics is built on math. For a long time, these careers have all required math. And the world is shifting even more so in this direction.
Many articles discuss how the future of work is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). This article discusses research from the Department of Education showing that students who study mathematics in college have higher rates of employment and better wages and careers post-college. This is likely because STEM positions are growing at a faster rate than non-STEM positions are.
Improve Your Child’s Financial Skills
Having a strong sense of mathematics helps students to better manage their resources or their monetary “capital.” Understanding the concepts of fractions, percents, ratios, proportions, and rate of change allow people to mentally think about their finances. It also improves their ability to strategically allocate their capital. Much of life comes down to the decisions that we make. And the decisions we make surrounding money are really important. Where are we going to choose to live, to go to school, and what investments might we make?
Warren Buffett has famously said that all the mathematics you need to be a good investor is a strong understanding of algebra. He says that he uses high school algebra every day as he analyzes and values companies. Now, your son or daughter may never become Warren Buffett. But, knowing algebra could help prevent them from making poor investment decisions.
Our Tailored Math Tutoring & Mentoring Process Creates Inner Drive
There is a lot of research these days showing that inner drive and study strategies are *the* most important factor determining which kids excel at mathematics. IQ is not the most important factor. Research shows that kids learn math when they are driven to learn it by internal motivation and when they have the most refined study strategies. The study strategies are easy to implement, but you have to know the right ones to apply. We can teach those to your student quickly. The more challenging thing it to gently kindle their inner drive to learn mathematics. Our math tutors know how to do this. We have a developed a specialized simultaneous tutoring and mentoring process that allows us to help with this.
At that the same time that we are tutoring your child, we are also mentoring them. I like to say that the mentoring aspect is the most important thing we do. We help students develop their own reasons for why *they* want to learn mathematics. We never force reasons upon them. Their reasons have to come from within! This is multiple orders of magnitude more powerful.
Develop Math Skills During School Breaks
All kids love their spring breaks and winter breaks. The downside to these long breaks is that it can be very easy for a child to forget the skills they have learned during the year. Thankfully, a tutor can help your child remember the skills they have already learned and then teach them new skills before going back to school. They will be better prepared for the new lessons their teacher will be giving. Your child will already have a leg up on the curriculum before they head back to class. With reinforcement, a tutor can help students recall their skills much easier. Their memories and skills of complicated math formulas will greatly improve as well.
As you can see, there are many reasons to consider hiring a tutor for your child. The right tutoring professionals can help children become more receptive to the struggles they are having in their math class and learn the skills to overcome them. Their comprehension, confidence and learned skills will offer them a better future both in mathematics and beyond.
Finding A Great Math Tutor in Portland
If you live in the Portland, Oregon area and are looking for a great math tutor for your child, consider us. No matter what area your child is struggling in or wants to improve in, our tutors will give them the necessary skills to improve their grades and be better prepared for testing.
Tutor Portland | Math Tutoring
950 SW 21st Ave #1117
Portland, OR 97205
(503) 347-7120
Math tutoring Services Include:
- Mathematics tutoring
- Calculus tutors
- Algebra tutors
- Elementary math tutors
- Math test prep
We also offer math tutoring services for:
- Spanish tutors
- Chemistry tutors
Math
July 25, 2019
Math Tutors Portland Oregon
Seven Benefits Of Working With Math Tutors Portland Oregon
Countless students struggle in school with math. That’s because once you fall significantly behind in a progressive subject like this one, catching up becomes next to impossible. Math tutors can help young students discover their ideal learning methods, attain mastery over essential, basic-level math skills, assist in test prep and discover strategies for successfully solving advanced math problems. Following are seven benefits that your child can gain by attending a tutoring session or, by investing in in-home tutors, with a qualified and experienced math tutor.
1. Tutor Students Can Get The One-On-One Attention They Need And Deserve
When people struggle in any subject, especially school math, asking for help can be extremely difficult, particularly in group learning environments. There is always the fear of frustrating instructors, earning the contempt of classmates, and failing to grasp the concept in question, even after the requested help has been received. This is actually why so many failing math students suffer in silence. Investing in online tutoring, in-home tutors, or private tutoring can be extremely beneficial for your student.
Conversely, students that engage in tutoring session have the benefit of a private, one-on-one learning environment in which asking questions is always safe and easy. The new subject matter is never presented until the current subject matter is fully understood. More importantly, essential math skills are built in a very steady, progressive, and easy-to-manage way. Helping students better grasp math across elementary school, middle school, high school and beyond can drastically increase their confidence in the classroom and benefit them as they continue their education.
2. Mastery In One Area Can Promote Confidence In Others
Failing in any subject can take a noticeable toll on a students’ overall confidence. Surprisingly, doing poorly in math can also affect students’ academic performance and general behavior in other areas. This is how many class clowns are actually born. The need to obtain approval from peers, and the need to deflect attention away from insufficient math skills, is inspiration enough to turn even the best-behaved kids into loud, boisterous jokers. As such, getting students the help they need as early as possible can result in impressive improvements across all areas of learning and advanced socialization.
3. Math Tutors In Portland Oregon Can Identify Your Child’s Learning Style
With the best math tutors in Portland, Oregon, the first tutoring sessions are largely exploratory in nature. In many instances, tutor students aren’t failing to grasp specific math concepts because they’re inherently bad in this subject; they simply haven’t been presented with complex ideas in ways that suit their individual learning styles. There are visual, verbal, auditory, and physical learners. Some kids are able to process new information best when instructors take a hands-on approach. Others benefit most from clearly written or spoken instructions. If your child is an auditory learner and only has access to visual learning tools in school, tutoring will provide an opportunity to confront and digest key information in a more needs-specific way.
4. Establish A Strong Foundation For Future Success In Math
Feeling truly capable in any area of study can make learning fun. This is actually one of the greatest benefits of working with math tutors in Portland, Oregon. People who receive these services no longer find themselves dreading time in class, or worrying over their work at home. More importantly, given that many areas of math entail the development of essential and progressive skills, time spent with tutors can actually help lay a solid foundation for future success in the subject. When a student struggles with core skills, each move to a new chapter or section can place this individual further and further behind. Tutors can prevent this by both catching their tutor students up and getting them ready for the challenges and skills that invariably lie ahead.
5. Self-Directed And Self-Paced Learning Can Make Students More Proactive
Students who struggle in math often procrastinate when it comes to completing homework assignments and preparing for tests. Tutoring encourages self-directed and self-paced learning by teaching students their individual learning styles and exposing them to tips, tools, and strategies for problem-solving that prevent them from getting stuck. Moreover, students who get the undivided, one-on-one attention that Oregon tutors provide are more likely to feel comfortable asking for help in-class when they truly need it.
6. Tutoring Can Help An Under-Stimulated Student Reach His Or Her True Potential
Math tutoring isn’t just for students who are struggling in this notoriously challenging subject. It’s also for kids who have a special knack for mastering new math skills right away, and who are often bored or under-stimulated in the conventional learning environment. Working with a Portland tutor is a great way for advanced learners to start looking ahead to the increasingly challenging subject matter that they’re bound to confront, discover real-world applications for the math skills that they currently possess, and improve their testing and studying skills among many other things.
7. Tutoring Helps Kids Get Ready For College
The road to college is riddled with math challenges. Tutoring will prepare your child for the countless exams that will ultimately determine passing or failing grades, and admission to first-choice universities. With the benefit of added confidence and an increasingly self-directed approach to learning, tutored students tend to be more empowered when it comes to defining and pursuing their goals for higher education.
Math is one area of learning in which core, foundation-level skills are critical to success. If your child is struggling in math, consulting with a Portland tutor can provide far-ranging benefits. Tutor Portland is an excellent place to start searching for the qualified math help that your young student deserves.
Where To Find Tutor Portland :
Tutor Portland | Math Tutoring
950 SW 21st Ave #1117
Portland, OR 97205
(503) 347-7120
We offer Math Tutors in Portland Oregon here.
March 19, 2019
10 Ways Portland-Based Math Tutors Can Help Your Teen
High school can be a challenging time for many young students. They have new social groups, sports teams, and classes. We’ve been around in Portland since 2015 and have worked with students from nearly every high school. We’ve found that there are 10 ways our Portland-based math tutors can help your student improve their grades and their confidence.
Our Approach To Math Tutoring
We focus on a personalized approach to tutoring. It is one thing for math tutors to provide stock answers to questions and challenges, but we seek to move beyond that by customizing our tutoring and providing what we call: tutoring in the moment. Our tutors are brilliant at adapting to the needs and demand of students.
Every student learns differently, and therefore we must teach through new examples and methods until one works. We believe it is our responsibility to teach an idea or topic, not the student’s problem to learn it.
That’s why during our interview process we look for Portland-based math tutors who have not only an understanding of the subject matter, but who can consistently demonstrate an ability to teach topics and ideas in new and exciting ways.
The end result of all of this is that your middle school or high school student will start to excel at math.
The Benefits of Our Portland-Based Math Tutors
- Better Grades
- Lower pressure and stress
- More confidence
- Improved understanding
- Greater speed and accuracy
- Stronger mathematical reasoning (which is very important for the SAT, ACT, and GRE tests)
- Higher performance
- A new-found interest in the subject
- A reliable support system
- Better grades in other courses, too! (Math is the foundation for many sciences. And the skills and tools they learn prepare them for chemistry, physics, and even biology.)
Important Factors to Consider
The most important part is to choose the right kind of tutor. Just because someone has strong understanding and knowledge of the subject, does not make that person a good tutor. Dealing with teens requires immense patience, care, and an ability to teach ideas in different ways. At Tutor Portland, we developed a team of professional tutors who know and understand the best ways and practices that can help your teen achieve success in mathematics. Math is not as complicated as most people believe it to be, once the fear is driven out, interest and capability take hold. Contact us about a free tutoring session and information phone call, to see if Tutor Portland might be a good fit for you.
March 1, 2019
The Top 5 Qualities You Should Be Looking For In A Tutor
Are you looking for a tutor? We look for them, too. And over the years we developed some processes and a handful of definite qualities that we look for in prospective tutors.
We base our processes on research and experience. Both research and experience have shown us that when looking for a tutor it is best to look for tutors who have the foundation of knowledge (the actual math, science, or Spanish knowledge) and also have the soft skills necessary to be able to connect with and relate to the student.
1. Soft Skills
We’ve found that over 50% of a tutors success is their ability to connect and relate to a student – it’s the teacher’s attitude, ability to communicate, and ability to connect that makes the biggest difference when it comes to education.
The bottom line is that your child is going to be much more likely to have a positive attitude towards learning and education if they are being assisted by someone that they like, relate to, and connect with.
2. Foundation of Knowledge
Of course, it is critical that a tutor not only talk the talk, but that they walk the walk. They need to know their stuff. We’ve interviewed tutors that didn’t – and of course we’ve interviewed tutors that did. It makes a big difference. It’s clearly visible. And we all know it.
3. Discipline (Preparedness)
We’ve interviewed tutors who weren’t prepared. We could tell. We’ve also interviewed tutors who brought lessons plans to the first meeting, who had everything written down and prepared. They were ready. And it showed. Hard work shows its colors.
These are just a few of the traits we look for in our tutors. We also look at who they are as person.
4. Integrity, Morals, Values
We ALWAYS ask ourselves, is this a tutor we would feel comfortable handing over the keys to our house? How about to our mothers house? Because tutors come into your home, it’s of critical importance that they have the highest levels of integrity. Whenever we are looking for a tutor – we look at their morality through both objective and subjective measures.
5. Their Life Path
We are much more inclined to hire a pre-medical student or a PhD mathematics student (who wants to teach) than we are to hire a tutor who just wants some extra cash. We look for tutors who have meaning and purpose behind their actions. We are looking for a tutor who has ambition and is willing to help and assist other people in achieving their dreams.
These are just a few of the qualities we look for.
We would be happy to give you advice on hiring and finding a tutor of your own. Or, if you like our style, you can always request a free session from one of our highly rated, regarded, and loved tutors.
February 1, 2019
3 Ways Tutoring Services Can Help Your Child
Tutoring services are of critical importance because lecture based styles of teaching mathematics, science, or Spanish leaves a large majority of students feeling lost and left behind. Teachers must stick to a schedule. And, so, if your child gets behind in middle school or high school, they are in big trouble because it is easy for the law of compounding to start working against them.
Pairing Up With A Tutor Can Help Your Child!
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Tutoring Services Are A Necessary Addition to Lecture-Based Learning
This is especially true in subjects like math, science, and Spanish. In these classes, what you learn in year 2 and 3 depend on what you learned in year 1. Therefore, if your child happens to not understand what is happening in year 1 – he is going to struggle in the following years. This will lead to other bad habits. When students are behind they start cheating. They copy off of their friend’s homework. Many students are able to earn Cs and Bs in math class. But they aren’t understanding the material at all. Tutoring services can help put a stop to this cycle. Tutoring allows a student to backtrack and learn all of the fundamental skills that they might have been missing. It also gives immediate support in that it allows them to get caught up on their homework and raise their grades in the short term.
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Tutoring Services Have A Positive Compounding Effect
Tutoring services help your child even more than you might initially think because they have a positive compounding effect. What does this mean? It means that once your child starts to understand math, she is going to start to enjoying it more. Once she enjoys it more she will put in extra effort and start to improve further. This will help her in other subjects like science. For the most part, Chemistry and Physics require a fundamental knowledge of Algebra (and beyond!). Realizing that it IS possible to learn math and science also teaches your children that they can accomplish whatever they set their mind to. These benefits start to compound. And soon your child is a doctor, lawyer, or scientist. And one day maybe even their children will be using our tutoring services as well.
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Tutoring Services Will Propel Your Child Above His Peers
Your child is meant to shine. He is meant to excel. Sometimes kids just need a little boost. We need someone to motivate us, to teach us, to guide us to success. This is what our tutors can help do.
We were founded back in 2015 under the name Mentor Portland. Mentoring is a part of who we are. And we still use an aspect of mentoring in all of our tutoring sessions. Many of our tutors have degrees or minors in psychology and human motivation. If you are curious to learn more about who we are, you can read more here.
If you are passionate about your child’s success, you should also check out the Talking to Teens video series for parents. The videos here teach you how to motivate and inspire your children to do more and be their best selves.
January 1, 2019
3 Reasons Why Math and Science Tutoring Is The Best Investment You’ll Ever Make
Math and science tutoring for your children is the best investment you’ll ever make. Why? Because the world is moving faster and faster towards jobs that require a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education. Perhaps in the future, the majority of well-paying jobs available will be reserved for those students who understand math, science, and technology.
Your kids are your most important asset. You invest (over the course of their lifetimes) millions of dollars in your children.
STEM Education Is of Critical Importance.
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Math and Science Tutoring Can Help Your Child Earn $20,000 – $30,000 More in Salary after College
The NY Times reports that Engineering, Computer Science, and Mathematics bachelors degrees earn an average of $55,000 to $65,000 starting salary after college. Social sciences earn an average of $45,000.
Some reports showed that the average starting salary for engineering was $73,700. This is compared to a humanities degree which earns $43,100.
The bottom line is that humanities and social sciences are no longer the most valued degrees. The world has a shortage of STEM graduates. And if you want your child to be on the cutting edge, they need to know mathematics and science.
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Math and Science Tutoring Teaches Your Child Transferable Skills
Having strong technical skills is a benefit at most any job. When you know how to code, or you have the mathematical capability to analyze a balance sheet, you are going to earn the position over the candidate sitting beside you.
STEM education prepares you to be a doctor, or a scientist. These are meaningful jobs that will provide your family with status and security.
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Math and Science Tutoring Prepares your Child for a Job
Every year 3.2 million jobs in STEM aren’t filled. We simply don’t have enough qualified people to work these positions. The great thing about having a STEM education is that you have options. You can decide whether you want to be a doctor, scientist, computer scientist, or you can even become a writer, or lawyer, or teacher.
That’s why at Tutor Portland we are so proud to focus on math and science tutoring for high school students. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your child’s education.
December 1, 2018
3 Ways Tutoring For Kids Differs From Tutoring For Teens and Adults
Our experience with tutoring for kids has taught us one thing: kids learn differently than teenagers and adults do. There are a few core ways a child’s approach to learning differs from that of an adult.
Tutoring for kids has three important concepts that make it distinct from adult education.
1. Tutoring for Kids uses a Different Style of Motivation
Adults study and learn in order to accomplish a given goal. Get a job. Secure a raise. Earn your graduate degree. Kids, however, are intrinsically motivated to learn because they are curious in understanding what the world is and how it works. That’s why it’s important to make elementary education fun and interesting. Grab a kid’s attention right off the bat. Enhance their natural curiosity and interest.
2. Tutoring for Kids Emphasizes that They Have The Whole World Open To Them
One elementary school teacher, Pauline Gremaud, has this to say: “I teach students that they are writers. They are readers. They are scientists. They are explorers.” (You can learn more by reading her incredible blog.)
At Tutor Portland we believe this is a great approach to elementary education and learning. Kids at this age need to know that the skills they are learning matter – that these skills are fundamental to becoming their future self. It’s important that they know that through learning they can reach their dreams. They can be a writer. A scientist. An explorer.
3. Tutoring for Kids uses Different Learning Methods
When it comes to adult education, a lot of teachers use a “teacher centered approach.” The teacher is the expert, the authority. This is a traditionalist style of teaching: the emphasis is on the teacher.
In a constructivist style of teaching, the focus is on the student. Learning is interactive instead of being based solely on repetition (traditionalist). Students work in groups. And knowledge is seen as fluid and changing. Most importantly, a student’s opinion is valued. It matters.
Teaching methods can have a huge impact on a child’s success. Cooperative learning, inquiry-based learning, and direct instruction are all methods of teaching.
At Tutor Portland we believe a Student Centered (constructivist) approach to learning has the greatest benefit for students.
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Tutoring for kids is different than adult education because kids have a unique style of motivation and they need to know the whole word is open to them. At Tutor Portland we believe we can best help our students succeed by utilizing a student centered approach to education and learning.
November 1, 2018
3 Reasons Why In-Home Tutoring Is Better Than Online Tutoring
As the world moves faster and faster towards online meetings, working remotely, and nearly everything online — we’ve found that in-home tutoring still works best for most students. One things we’ve discovered over thousands of hours of tutoring is that each student learns a bit differently. We all have different strategies for learning and solving problems.
In-Home Tutoring is Still The Best Option For Students K-12
1. Each Student Learns Differently
Everyone has their own way and method of solving problems. And this means using a wide-array of educational techniques is the best way to help students realize their inner-genius. In our experience, switching between different styles of teaching and learning is simply harder to do online. One student might learn best with diagrams, writing, or through visualization. And when the tutor and student are both sitting at the same desk, it’s much easier to switch back and forth between different learning styles. Eventually picking the one that works best.
Through our many years of in-home tutoring, we’ve learned that if something isn’t working – teach it a different way.
2. In-Home Tutoring Has A Greater Emotional Understanding and Connection
Human psychology and understanding is a big part of what we do at Tutor Portland. And it’s just harder to do online. During in-home tutoring, it’s easy to read a student’s nonverbal communication and body language. Maybe they didn’t understand something. Maybe they are feeling down on their abilities. One of our tutors would be able to see this in a student’s body language, and take the appropriate steps to correct it.
We call this Tutoring In The Moment. We are able to stop our students and provide a redirect, re-framing their thinking from a negative view of their own capabilities to one of possibility, desire, and hope.
Maybe a student, when you use a particular style of teaching, starts to lean in and becomes visibly more interested in what you are saying. This is a clear sign to our tutors that this particular style of education is working.
3. In-Home Tutoring is Convenient + Online Tutoring is Easy to Skip
I’ve personally done online tutoring in the past. And it seems like 25-30% of the time is spent waiting for the computer to load, or for the internet to refresh.
Can you imagine having a personal trainer over skype? It would be better than nothing. But having a trainer in person is much better. You are much less likely to skip the session or blow it off.
When you know a tutor is coming to your house at 5:00PM, it’s easy to prepare and make it happen. There is something less formal about online communication appointments. They are much easier to skip.
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These are just a few reasons why we believe in-home tutoring is better than online tutoring. We encourage you to contact us, if you have any questions about your child’s education.