I tutored a student who was taking Math 30-1. We first made contact between terms, when there was about a week before classes were to begin. A suggestion was made to use an online resource to see video lessons and try practice questions prior to receiving in class instruction. This student took the initiative and invested the time to get “a head of the game” so to speak. By the time the class formally began, she was well over half way through the first unit. Eventually she wrote a very successful first unit exam. With an increased level of confidence, this seemed to pave the way for the rest of the course.
Although it became more of a challenge to stay ahead as the classroom instruction was moving forward, there were further opportunities to employ this strategy. The video lessons were used to both advance preview material, and also to fill in any gaps of understanding. Here is what she had to say about the experience:
“Math is definitely not my strong suit so I decided it was best to reach out and get some help. I met with Phil twice a week and decided that we were going to try to work ahead of the class. I truly believe that working ahead was extremely beneficial to my understanding in math 30-1. Working ahead made it easier to understand what was being taught in class because I was able to see the material we were learning before hand, and while being a student that needs time to process information, it was very helpful to have a resource that allowed me to succeed. The first time I met with Phil I had told him that my goal for the class was just to pass, but he made sure to help me with whatever I needed and reminded me to stay confident when going into tests. Phil not only helped me pass the class, but helped me pass with honours which I would have never been able to do on my own.” Jordan F.
If you are looking for a different way to approach success in mathematics, consider this strategy. If you would like to talk further about this or would like more information, please send me an email,
philqnn@gmail.com
