Math 158T Preparation for
Tutoring Mathematics

Welcome to Math 158T and www.mathtoearth.org! Tutoring mathematics is a math problem in and of itself that changes with each person and each tutoring session. The best strategy for tutoring math is to adapt to the situation. One has to ask: how does one teach a class about adapting to the situation. The answer is: I don’t really know...but we’ll find out as the semester progresses. Also in the midst of adapting to the situation we must balance the our personal collection of math know-how with the knowledge base of the person we are working with. It’s difficult but necessary to withhold cranking out the answer to the problem for the tutee. We need to listen to what they have to say first so we know how to adapt our response to their confusion. This often saves time and reassures the student that not everything they attempted was completely off track!

This Semester

I’ve created some props this semester that may help as catalysts for producing a class that best suits your personal development as a math tutor. There is the Tutor-Tutor Observation Form and the other is the MathtoEarth Question/Answer list which is a website for tutors and students to ask math questions and provide answers to the questions asked. Before you can view the math on this site on your own computers you need to do a little setting up depending on your system. The following link gives you the details on what to download and install: Setting Up your Computer to View Math. I can help if necessary and if you just want to use the MLC computers to work in this list, they are already set up.

Using the Tutor-Tutor Observation Form and viewing the LIA Schedules and Tutor Schedules showing when tutors are tutoring, you will need to observe 4 different tutors during the semester. Please don’t do more than one observation per week. Fill out one of these forms for each tutor you observe. Be sure to have the tutor who you will be observing introduce you and ask the student if it is o.k. for you to watch for tutor training purposes. You may want to attend several tutoring sessions with the tutor until you find a session meaty enough to observe. The form should be filled out completely either during or immediately after observing the tutor. Please discuss your observations with the tutor only after you complete the form. You will turn it in to me at the next weekly colloquium.

The next task to complete for the semester is to create 4 questions related to tutoring math and insert them in the mathtoearth questionlist. Please insert one question before each colloquium. I will pull up the list of questions before we meet and part of the colloquium may consist of discussions surrounding those questions. If you need help formatting your question, please see me in the MLC. Don't do this at the last second before the colloquium meets. Also you will respond to 4 questions on the list (not your own).

The minimum requirement for receiving credit in this class is 4 Tutor-Tutor Observations, 4 questions entered at mathtoearth, and 4 answers entered at mathtoearth. As the Tutor-Tutor Observation forms are in need of improvement, I’ve put a place one them for letting me know how you think they can be improved.

Logistics

The class consists of 4 – 2 hour-long colloquiums that happen throughout the semester and a lab component where you get hands-on experience tutoring math. If you are already a MLC math tutor, your current hours count as the lab portion of the class. Those of you who aren’t currently tutoring in the MLC will need to fill out the Tutor Schedule form with 2 hours/week of tutor training in the MLC. At first you will not be tutoring but, rather, will be walking around with other tutors. After the next colloquium, you will have other tutors walk around with you while you tutor.

Extra Stuff:

If you are interested in holding your own tutor training presentation let me know. You should know that you would need to hold (at this time) 3 tutor training sessions for the week you plan to present

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