PrepNow Tutor - Charles M.
Charles began his instructional career while he was in graduate school, and he was hooked when he saw students engage and improve over the course of semesters. He reveled in such student improvement at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, where he earned a BS in mathematics and an MS in applied mathematics. As a teaching assistant at Southern Illinois, Charles taught algebra, intermediate algebra, analytic geometry, and introductory math. He also tutored students in math of all levels, from introductory math to differential equations.
Charles sees his instructional role as that of a facilitator. As such, he provides a framework within which students can succeed, but he feels that learning needs to be hard and student-driven. He says, “I liken learning to lifting weights: it can be painful, uncomfortable, and even discouraging at times. However, with consistent hard work, one can realize lasting returns that are beneficial in areas beyond the classroom.” For Charles, this sort of approach stresses the cultivation of skills and confidence one needs to succeed in all aspects of life, something he thinks all instruction should bolster.
When not sifting through data or helping students, Charles has always liked to stay active. In high school, he played baseball and football and bowled all four years. He continued to bowl in college and still bowls in a league to this day. He also loves to take long walks and plays percussion. However, if given a choice, such exercise would not be at the top of the list for a perfect day; for that, he simply needs to be sitting on his balcony reading a good book.
