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My standard rate is $65 per hour.
Tame the Math Demon
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Math type
Sorry this pro can’t do your job, but we know other pros who can.
Introduction: I've been helping students understand math and science for going on two decades. So many students don't know that the math they're learning is useful and is supposed to make sense. If they ask their teachers "Why are we learning this stuff?" the answer is always something like, "You'll need it next year when you study the next level (Geometry, Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, etc.)" Math seems to them like a bunch of arbitrary nonsense put together by humorless committees of gray-haired old men with bad breath.
I explain all of all the tough concepts with plenty of funny and interesting real life stories and examples of how we use what we're learning. I know the places where students generally have trouble and can provide practice with carefully sequenced exercises. I include strategies for solving math word problems and real-life physics and chemistry problems.
Students respond well to my witty and irreverent style, true stories of the weirder-than-hell people who invented the math and science we use today, and gentle patience.
Lessons are given in my home office in the quiet, safe Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Oakland, CA. My office is walking distance (3 blocks) from Head Royce school, and a 10-15 minute drive from Oakland Tech, Piedmont High and Bishop O'Dowd. Lessons are generally one hour in length and cost $65/hr.
I love the excitement on a student's face when they grasp a concept that has been grinding them into the ground.
Overview
23 years in business
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Reviews
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Shirley R.
Mar 21, 2017
Back in 2011, Michael was recommended to us by my sister who enlisted his help to tutor her son who attended Head Royce High School. She said he was excellent and could tutor on any math or science subjects. Because I had a special needs child, I asked if he would allow me to sit in on a couple sessions with my son and he obliged. I was immediately taken by how meticulous, patient, and tuned in he was to what the student needed. With his help, our son did great in Algebra II and Geometry. We then sent our daughter to Michael for Biology, Algebra II, Geometry, and Honors Chemistry. Due to her fondness for math and hope to be competitive when applying for a computer science major at a good college, she felt she needed to accelerate her math curriculum. Therefore, over the summer between her sophomore and junior years at Piedmont High School, she was able to accelerate her math level by a year by taking Pre-Calculus at a community college while being guided by Michael's expert tutoring skills. He is now tutoring her in AP Calculus AB and Honors Physics. Michael has helped our daughter gain mastery in all these subjects and get the highest grades possible in these subjects. Both my children have found Michael funny, helpful, friendly, extremely smart, gentle, encouraging, gives relevant additional work if he finds they needed more help in a certain area, and a pleasure to work with. In addition, I have recommended Michael to nearly a dozen friends that have asked me if I know of a good tutor and they have all been very pleased. We feel very fortunate that someone with such incredible expertise in so many subject areas lives only 5 minutes from our home.
Susan M.
Mar 16, 2017
I found Michael through Head Royce' tutor list when my son was in 9th grade. My son saw Michael once a week for all four years of high school. Michael is smart, encouraging, and reliable. He tutored my son in various math classes, chemistry, biology, and physics. I've referred Michael to family and friends' children and they have all been pleased. I can't thank Michael enough as he has contributed to my son's success in high school, and now in college. The best thing is that my son really liked working with Michael!