"I don't believe in a standard approach to math. Yes, it's important to learn the proper vocab and symbols but I don't think that's useful when it comes before instilling an understanding of the mechanics behind it all. I taught within the system as a public high school math teacher for five years before my frustration with standardization became unbearable. A student needs to bring their experiences and perspectives into their learning for any of it to matter. No standardized curriculum or assessment can reflect this.

I can't make math fun. Fun is an attitude that the students bring into the subject matter. I'm part artist, part programmer, and part gamer. That's my fun and that's what I bring to the table when I teach any subject.

My creds? I am a state of Texas certified math and special-ed teacher for grades 4-12 and I have experience teaching developmental math at the college level. I have a BS in computer science and an MS in education media design & tech under my belt. For my day job, I teach HS Animation. I try to maintain a certain level of awesome in every endeavor I pursue and awesome is contagious.

Flexibility and adaptability are key in how I approach teaching and key for encouraging as low-stress an environment as possible for students. I'm equally comfortable tutoring face-to-face as I am doing a session remotely. I try to leverage available toys and tools for learning. In my ever-expanding toolbox of resources, I use videos, online games, and can quickly create demos and interactive representations to help students "see" the math and be able to tinker with it. It's in this exploration that students will develop their own hooks for understanding.

I really look forward to working with you and to share a more laid-back approach to math. I'll bring my own toys." less...