Math for Sensitive Souls
*Empathy forward math*
I specialize in creating a safe and supportive space to learn and grow. This philosophy is the foundation of my approach and style.
My name is Ashley and I have over 20 years of education experience. I tutor students of all ages in math, both virtually and in person. My experience includes working in schools, tutoring privately and less traditional forms of instruction (outdoor education/fitness instruction). I attended a highly competitive magnet high school for engineering, hold a Bachelor of Science from the University of V
09/03/2024
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Wishing you all the watermelons this school year ☺
Why some students need a different kind of experience
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Math can be overwhelming. School can be overwhelming. It’s not easy to learn new concepts when we’re dealing with overwhelm.
Unfortunately, once a student has a negative experience with math or a math teacher, it can be difficult to recover. Attitudes start to solidify (“math is hard”). Self perceptions start feeling like the truth (“I’m bad at math”). While math concepts may come easier to some individuals than others, it doesn’t mean that the rest are just doomed to suffer through math.
It is VERY common to not understand something right away. The reality is that teachers often don’t have the time or ability to give one-on-one attention. Some students won’t ask questions because they don’t feel comfortable admitting that they don’t understand something in front of their whole class. There isn’t anything wrong with that. Group settings can be stressors for some students. So, if someone takes the time to make sure a student understands something before moving on, it can make a world of difference. New things will be simply the next step, instead of compounding confusion with each new lesson.
After years of learning math and years of teaching math, I’ve seen how seemingly impossible concepts become commonplace. Over and over again I hear my students ask me “that’s it??”, genuinely shocked because something they thought was so confusing is now easy. This is one of my favorite things. Not just because it gives me the warm and fuzzy feeling; something more important is happening. This is when the student takes back their power and realizes that this is a challenge that they can handle.
Being a highly sensitive person (HSP) myself, I am acutely aware of how important the right ‘vibes’ are in education. I know how easy it is to spiral into negative self talk and be discouraged or overwhelmed. I have had moments where it seemed like my brain shut down because of anxiety. I have been unable to answer simple questions because the person asking me was aggressive or impatient. Since I’ve experienced my own struggle as a highly sensitive person, I want to help lessen the suffering of others. Students shouldn’t feel less than because something didn’t click right away.
I believe in the power of a little extra patience, empathy and support. This applies both in the classroom and beyond. The sooner we learn how we learn best, the sooner we figure out how to thrive in this world.
Wishing everyone a smooth transition back to school
Hope you enjoyed your summer!
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Anyone else relate to this?😄
Watch this reel by bad_science_jokes on Instagram bad_science_jokes • Original Audio
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