Learning Philosophy
“Commitment”
The best thing about math is also the worst – its an endless wealth of knowledge. As such, math has a way of making students feel like they don’t know much at all, regardless of how much they’ve learnt. The simple truth is that math is hard and even the most capable will hit a wall eventually.
“Belief”
Mathematics is about simplifying and slowing things down. It’s about dissecting a problem into its most basic components, understanding each separately, then putting them back together to reach a clear conclusion. Speed comes naturally with practice and repetition. It should not be the priority. Enjoying the process and rushing to get it done are two notions that are at odds. If you rush to solve a problem, then you’re probably going to make a mistake, then rush right past it – leading to even more mistakes which you’re unable to explain because you missed the very first.
“Motivation”
Don’t resent math for challenging you, and please dont resent yourself for struggling with math. Sitting with a problem, thinking it through, and exploring different possibilities is 90% of what math is all about. If frustration sets in, remind yourself that trial and error is a vital part of the learning process. You will need to hit walls before you can overcome them. Please go slowly, stay focused, and practice as often as you can. Like any skill, the more you exercise the mathematical part of your brain the stronger it wil become.
“Resilience”
To get the most out of tuition, it’s strongly recommended that you attend weekly lessons, focus during lessons, take notes during lessons, attempt problems during lessons, practice consistently, and provide constructive feedback between lessons. Participation is a very efficient way for students to validate their understanding and is a necessary tool for effective tuition. Don’t be ashamed to ask questions, and during explanations please politely interject if you don’t understand something, lose track, or require a slower pace. The whole point of tuition is to follow along with your tutor and learn something new. Relax during lessons, embrace the rate at which you naturally learn, and have faith that you will improve over time.
“Perseverance”
Mathematics gives us something unique and pure that cannot be found elsewhere. It gives us incontrovertible truth. When you learn something in math it doesn’t go away, fade, or die. It’s there forever, and no one can tell you differently. This is what makes learning math so worth the effort. My strongest recommendation to you, the student, is that you stop perceiving mathematics as a bottomless pit and start viewing it as an endless ladder – everpresent for you to reach new heights.
