Over the next few weeks, we’ll introduce you to some of our amazing, talented and dedicated teachers at Absolute Value Academy. We asked questions about their experience as a tutor and what advice they have for students.

This week’s conversation is with Jan Sinopoli, who teaches math at AVA! 

AVA: What advice would you offer to parents or students considering tutoring for the first time?

Jan: Tutoring is a great opportunity, and to get the most out of it, be sure to have open communication with your tutor and come prepared.

Let your tutor know what textbook and technology you use in class. If possible, bring them to the tutoring session. Oftentimes, teachers have a syllabus or post a calendar on a regular basis, share those as well so that the tutor is aware of upcoming due dates for assignments and assessments.

For parents: share any challenges or learning gaps your child may have. The tutor can address those concerns through ongoing practice during each tutoring session. (For example, if a student in algebra struggles with operations with negative numbers, the tutor and student can begin each session with practice until that content is mastered.)

Lastly, if a student has a particular study guide or assignment they would like to work on during their tutoring session, they can email it to Heather Earley in advance and she can forward the information to the tutor so they can plan for the session!

AVA: Can you describe your approach to helping students who struggle staying motivated?

Jan: Make your progress visible by creating a list of what needs to be accomplished and have the student check items off as they complete them.

Set small goals and celebrate successes, such as completing a set of math problems or making sense of a new concept. 

Have the student verbalize what they learned during each session.

AVA: How can parents support their child’s learning outside of tutoring sessions?

Jan: Support your child by helping them become more independent.  Work together to set routines for when homework gets completed, plan for upcoming assessments and projects, etc.

AVA: What are some common challenges you face as a tutor, and how do you overcome them?

Jan: It is challenging when a student comes in for a session, and they don’t have anything specific in mind to work on. In those cases, as an experienced educator, I can jump in and create something meaningful for us to work on based on the course they are in; however, we can be much more productive if we focus on content that corresponds to their current classwork.

AVA: What inspired you to become a tutor?

Jan: I was a teacher for many years, and I enjoy interacting with young adults. I have always enjoyed mathematics, and I find pleasure in developing different ways to explain math content to different learners. I love the feeling of helping students make sense of something they didn’t previously understand and feel successful. 

Tutoring provides all the fun of teaching without the paperwork and grades.  It is pure learning for the sake of learning.

AVA: Can you share a memorable success story from your tutoring experience?

Jan: Yes! I met a woman in her 40s through a mutual friend. She never finished high school, and it bothered her that she never earned her diploma. I offered to meet with her, and after working once a week for ten weeks (and lots of additional practice on her own), she passed the GED math test and earned her diploma. It was amazing to see her reach her goal!

Read more about Jan in her staff bio and reach out if you’d like to set up math tutoring.