"Hi! I'm Curtis and I hope you'll select me to be your tutor.

I graduated from MIT near the top of my class with a Bachelor's degree in Math and a minor in physics.

Leaving college, I felt grateful to the professors who made a subject interesting, and who made themselves available to help students.

In my 30 years of classroom teaching and individual tutoring, I have tried to use a similar approach by teaching math subjects in an engaging and creative way, and by being available to help students outside the classroom.

I have mostly taught middle school and high school math subjects, and have also taught higher level math at DePaul University and Purdue University.

I now devote my time to tutoring, and my two favorite subjects are pre-algebra and algebra 1. My experiences teaching and tutoring have helped me understand the different reasons students struggle. And I have found that often I can help a student by using visual aids or diagrams to teach a concept, or examples from everyday life.

When I work with a student I strive for a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Each student is different, and students learn in different ways. When I work with a student I will have a structured lesson plan ready, but will always be flexible and adapt to the student's needs.

Both pre-algebra and algebra 1 introduce new terms and symbols that can feel confusing at first. Terms like "associative property" or the use of letters such as "x" and "y" often make students think the ideas are harder than they are. I help students see that these letters are just symbols for a number. I often use diagrams and visual aids to help a student understand a new topic. I might also use a balance scale to help a student understand how to solve an equation.

I welcome feedback from students and parents to ensure the tutoring is helping the student. I can be reached easily, and strive to do everything possible to help a student.

I hope to have the opportunity to help you succeed in pre-algebra and algebra 1!" less...