PrepNow Tutor - Michael J.
Michael has experience working as a substitute teacher at the middle school level; he primarily taught math (algebra, geometry, pre-calculus I and II) and history. He likes to check in with students about goals, expectations, and how they feel about the learning material and process. “I believe frustration and confusion are vital parts not just of learning, but of becoming a better human being that will work a way around an obstructed path rather than turn around,” he says.
He earned a BA in mathematics and an MS in computational and applied mathematics from UMass Lowell. As a graduate student, he taught as a substitute teacher at his former middle school a few days a week—he especially enjoyed subbing math classes. During his final semester, he accepted a job offer from a software development company; however, after the project’s rollout, he opted to return to something he loves more: teaching.
His proudest moment came as a teaching assistant in grad school. “The class was tense because they had an exam the following day, but the next week, a handful of students thanked me for the time I spent on that particular problem as they'd gotten it correct on the exam,” he shares. He was elated to learn that the entire class was grateful for the way he broke down complex concepts.
Critical thinking and “soft skills” are two tenets of Michael’s approach. “As a math student, one of the most useful soft skills you acquire is the ability to create a sound logical progression,” he explains. By focusing on process over product, he can see where students get stuck and guide them through more efficient thinking patterns. He likes to challenge students, especially those who have been performing relatively well. “I'll take an opportunity to make them work out a frustrating problem mostly for themselves, because even though they may be irritated with me while doing it, the boost they receive from handling the brunt of the work themselves will propel them forward,” he proclaims. “A lot of math is like trying to break down a wall by banging your head against it; it won't feel like it's working at all when you start, but when you keep banging your head against the wall and don't worry about when it'll fall, you'll see progress when you eventually pick your head up to look.”
His mathematical prowess earned him membership into Pi Mu Epsilon National Mathematics Honor Society, a spot on the dean’s list, and the title of cum laude. He was later awarded research to complete a root-finding algorithm program as a graduate student.
In his free time, he loves playing ice hockey and golf; he’s still psyched about getting to play ice hockey at the TD Garden during intermission of a Bruins game when he was 10 years old! He also enjoys yoga, meditation, reading (classic fiction and psychology), and socializing with family and friends, “all of which require me to employ consistent discipline and accountability to myself.”
