Math Tutoring

The Learning Path Approach – Fluency in the Foundations & Conceptual Understanding

The Learning Path tutors students beyond a simple understanding of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (as is attempted in school). We push our students to know their arithmetic as basic facts, and to understand it from a variety of approaches. Once the Foundations are mastered, we transition to a mastery of the concepts embraced in the Common Core standards.

Elementary – the Time to Get Ahead

For many years parents have brought us their middle school students who are suddenly having trouble in Math. In Elementary these students often achieved reasonably good grades, and no need was seen for supplementing their Math. Yet suddenly with the introduction of Algebra, everything seems to have gone wrong. Many parents draw the reasonable conclusion that their child is struggling with Algebra.

The answer, more often than not, is their child’s difficulties began in Elementary when they failed to gain a deep understanding or fluency in Math. Algebra simply reveals their underlying weaknesses. As these students typically make many basic arithmetic mistakes and lack sufficient fluency, they cannot even begin to master solving for x. Some are still adding with their fingers, and have no hope of keeping up. Failure typically leads to frustration, and possibly a lifetime aversion and inability with Math. The Learning Path will identify which specific problems your student is having, and tutor them individually in these areas. We will fill in the gaps and allow your student to get caught up and move ahead in Math.

Best to Start Early

It is best to start early in mastering Math and not wait until a crisis point in Middle School, when it is often difficult to undo years of damage and students are less enthusiastic about learning. Nonetheless it is never too late. The Learning Path will tutor your child not only in Math, but will also help them regain a sense of self-confidence if that has been lost. This often leads to a reignited enthusiasm for Math.

Concepts after Fluency

As students gain a mastery of the basics, we can move on to mapping out their knowledge of the Common Core standards in the following areas:

1) Numbers and Operations

2) Algebra & Algebraic thinking

3) Measurement & Data

4) Geometry

Typically our Math tutoring services are able to move students approximately two grade levels in one academic year, or about twice what we would expect to happen without intervention. Sometimes we can achieve much more than this. You will be able to see their progress over time through independent diagnostic testing.

If you’d like to get your child started in Math tutoring at The Learning Path, please click below to schedule a placement test at one of our tutoring centers in Mar Vista or Santa Monica.