Welcome to Math Success. I am Laura Hathaway and I am your coach at Math Success. I have a unique background and approach in working with students, which has led to a very high success rate in my work. I have a Ph.D. in Math and Science Education, and M.S. in Counseling and a B.S. in Physics. This education and background enables me to work with all of the aspects that can affect a student's performance and attitude in math and science. I address the issues of self-confidence, math and test anxiety, past deficiencies, learning styles, conceptual understanding, and standardized test preparation. All of these areas are vital in improving a student's performance on exams, their attitude towards math and science, and their college and career choices.
Math & Science Coaching:
Laura Hathaway, PhD, draws from her expertise in the fields of math and science education, physics and psychotherapy, to create a program based on each individual's unique learning style and personal goals. Laura is gifted at recognizing the underlying issues obstructing a student's progress in math and science and then successfully resolving these issues.
"Laura's skill as a tutor goes far beyond the average 'some extra help with the math homework.' Laura has the professional expertise to truly provide diagnostic assessment of a child's learning style, enabling her to offer personalized guidance that has literally turned our son's grades from failing to a 4-point this semester. When we found Laura, our son had been kicked out of an accelerated math class. He had been promoted to the class because he had somehow managed to survive, by his wits, during a number of years of very minimal math instruction. Math homework hung like a cloud over every evening. So Laura not only had the task of preparing him for a rigorous honors math class for his freshman year in high school – she first had to discover what methodology he'd developed on his own to do math. Within two sessions, Laura helped him clear up problems that had been years in the making. He has gone from ‘out of the class' to achieving consistent As in his honors math class. Laura is patient and approachable and, in our household, it is no small miracle when our son chooses to do his math homework first , because he finds it the easiest work in the stack."
~Carol Kelly, Lecturer, Seattle University
"Our son began working with Laura shortly before beginning his 10th
grade school year. He has gone from a "C" in Algebra I to an "A" in
Algebra II. More importantly, his relationship with her has been so
comfortable and nurturing that even grades in his other courses have
improved. Better than A's, our son believes in himself. His success
in math has impacted his whole school experience. Truly money and time
well spent."
~Susan Richardson
"As a result of Laura's tutoring, my crying turned
from tears of despair to tears of joy! After just a few sessions, my
daughter's math grade shot right up from a "C" to the "A plus" that
she was capable of. She started really doing well in all of her other
classes too. Laura taught her how to organize her studying and her
notebook - and how to take the tests properly. In addition to the attention,
my daughter seems to get a lot out of seeing a strong, independent
woman who loves math. She has seen that it is cool for a girl to excel
at math. She doesn't feel like a geek anymore. In fact, she plans to
take an accelerated math class at summer school.
It is easy to justify the expense of Laura's excellent
tutoring services. Her kind, gentle tutoring is just what my overwhelmed freshman
needed."
~Regina, mother of Shoreline high school freshman
"My son was failing math & was
going to be moved to a lower math & have to retake the course next
year. Now he has a high "B" average & is looking at taking honors
math classes. His attitude changed from "why try, nothing is helping" to
a good attitude & "this is easy for me." He's more confident in
his ability to be successful. He is doing better in all his classes."
~Father, Ballard high school sophomore
"My daughter, a 15 year old high school
sophomore started working with Laura at the beginning of her sophomore
year (9/2003). We've seen significant improvement in her math skills,
test scores, and grades in that time. Most importantly, we've seen
a return of her confidence in math…she knows she can do math! Recent
proof, she offered to tutor another child who is currently struggling
in math!"
~Terry, mother of Edmonds high school
sophomore
"You have been working with our son
since August 2000. At that time he had just been removed from the honor
curriculum at Garfield High School because of low grades. In addition,
he was slated to take a remedial math semester before he could re-enter
the integrated series of classes. How well we remember seeing your
brochure that read "I can take students from failing grades to A's".
It has been two and a half years since you came
into Zach's math life and you have made a big difference. Zach did, indeed, complete
the remedial class, reenter the integrated series at the honors level, and is
now enrolled in pre-calculus - he has received an 'A' grade each semester. We
have also seen improvement outside the math realm - chemistry, physics, and his
SAT scores are all strengthened.
You have a gift when working with students. You
are able to quickly figure out the gaps in skill level, and fill those in while
moving forward. You are also masterful at building self-esteem and confidence.
Zach wrote one of his college essays about you…he says you "made math make sense"… We
thank you for all you have done in guiding our son during this important time
in his life."
~Meg Horrigan and Terry Foster, 1/10/03
Laura Hathaway's success has been remarkable.
Our daughter came to her as a junior taking pre-calculus. L. had not
felt confident in her math skills since early elementary school and
now felt over her head. As a bright, motivated, articulate student
on a college track, we were concerned for her self-confidence as well
as her GPA!
During second quarter L. began hourly sessions with Laura
two-three times a month. The change was immediate and sustained. What had been
difficult suddenly became comprehensible and even fun. Our daughter ended the
year with an A, a recommendation for AP Calculus, and a 4.0 GPA!
She and Laura are now working on identifying the gaps that
will make a difference on the math SAT.
We are grateful and highly recommend Laura Hathaway to anyone
seeking a skilled, compassionate, and insightful tutor/mentor for their son or
daughter.
~Tony and Linda Robinson
Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, SAT Prep, Physics and Chemistry.
Small Group Coaching can be highly effective in developing self-confidence, exposing students to alternate ways of doing math, and developing conceptual understanding. In small groups students have an opportunity to discuss math and science concepts which research has shown to help develop and integrate their understanding of the subject on a more intuitive level. This leads to a greater level of confidence in their understanding of the material and to higher test scores. It's also fun! The students learn to enjoy math in their discussions and interactions with the other group members. Its an ideal way for teens, who tend to be social, to positively change their experience of math and science.
Individual Coaching offers greater flexibility in scheduling and the whole time is spent on the specific needs the student has such as: homework problems, past deficiencies, and test preparation. Students can bring material from both science and math classes or SAT
preparation, and there is an opportu nity for a closer mentor relationship to develop. In individual coaching, specific patterns or misconceptions in student understanding can be expertly assessed and resolved. For a student who is struggling in a challenging class or who would like to strengthen their skills in preparation for college, individual coaching can be an excellent choice.
Small Group Coaching: 90 minutes. Groups for SAT and ACT Preparation and other math and science areas. Students learn from interaction, discussion, guided inquiry, and explaining to other group members their reasoning. A longer session time gives more time for students to explore, discuss, and integrate new concepts into their understanding. These groups meet weekly and students enroll each month to reserve their space. Drop-in is available for some groups.
Individual Coaching: 60 minutes. Offers greatest flexibility in scheduling. Focuses specifically on the individual's needs.
Shared Coaching: 60 minutes for two or more students.
Focused Individual Coaching: 30 minutes for one student. These sessions can supplement group coaching for specific topic areas and test preparation as needed.
Consultation & Workshops: Consultation and workshops available. Topics include: SAT Preparation, inquiry in teaching, teacher preparation, writing in teaching mathematics, teaching math according to learning styles, gender and race in teaching and learning math.
Please call for rates.
Ways to Optimize Your Benefits From Your Work at Math Success:
· The best way to improve your grades and math/science ability is to do some math or science each day. Even one problem a day can change a person's ability over time.
· It is important the day of your coaching session to go home and practice what you have learned that day by doing some new problems or redoing a homework problem that we did that day.
· In a class where few problems are assigned, it is essential to do extra problems beyond the homework. I can help you with selecting practice problems to do. This practice will help you in deepening your understanding.
· Please be prepared for sessions. Come to your session with your textbook, homework assignment, tests and quizzes, and a notebook and calculator. If you are preparing for a test, bring what the test will be over or a review sheet if you were given one.
· Learn to be more proactive with your teacher at school in asking for help. This will also show your interest in the class and in learning, which can only impress your teacher! Ask questions during class. If you have a question, so do many of the other students.
· Do as much of your homework as you can on your own before coming to session. Have specific questions ready to ask about during the coaching session.
· Do the assigned reading. If you get stuck on something do not spend time on it if you are frustrated, but wait and get help during your session and/or with your teacher.
· In small groups at school, really attempt to be an active participant and to understand what the group is doing.
Education :
Ph.D, Math and Science Education, University of Washington.
· Inquiry-based teaching in math and science
· Gender and race issues in learning math and science
· Educational technology in math and science
M.S., Counseling, Oregon State University
B.S. , Physics, University of ArizonaProfessional Experience :
· Math and Physics Teacher - Over eight years teaching experience in math and physics at K-12 and college levels, including programs for ethnic minorities.
· Psychotherapist in Private Practice -Eight years as a psychotherapist in private practice working with individuals and groups, as well as giving workshops and professional training sessions.
· Instructional Consultant -Designed and facilitated training in instructional analysis to the science and math departments at the University of Washington.
· Professor in Mathematics -Taught pre-calculus using technology at Seattle University.
· Math and Science Coach in Private Practice - Over six years experience coaching students in math and science at K-12 and college levels.
Laura Hathaway, PhD., Math & Science Education
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