Olenka

I earned a Bachelor of Science in Math Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Boston University in May 2020. During my time at BU I developed a deep understanding of grade school math subjects and how they are connected to higher level math. I have worked with a variety of ages of students from diverse backgrounds in different settings, but I especially love tutoring which I have been doing online since 2019.

My Tutoring Style:

I teach math because I recognize the way it serves as a gateway to success in our education system. I believe that every student has the potential to meet these demands if we do our best to support them. I've seen firsthand the way math affects a student's overall academic self-esteem, and recognize my role as a tutor and educator in building them up to feel excited to learn.

My tutoring style is laid-back, fun, but most importantly individualized, so I tend to adapt my style to each student's needs and existing attitudes about learning. I focus on getting to know their unique needs so I can give them the best tools to achieve their personal academic goals. Together we can build their confidence in problem solving, test-taking strategies, and using resources effectively. Bringing my interesting facts from number theory and abstract algebra, I love giving students an idea of the big picture: why am I learning this, and where can it take me in the future?

Success story:

I can honestly say that almost every one of the students I’ve tutored has been a successful and inspiring story to me, but one student comes to mind who came to me a couple weeks into her Geometry class continuously failing tests in the 30s and 40s and falling behind on assignments because remembering the concepts and vocabulary was an overwhelming challenge. She had never done particularly well in math and constantly doubted her ability to try a problem on her own. Working together twice a week for the rest of the school year, we focused on making sense of the material, building confidence in her problem-solving skills, and creating personalized study resources to help retain vocabulary and concepts. I was so proud of her the day she first earned a C on her test about circles because it was a huge improvement from where she started. By the end of the school year she earned a B in the class!

Hobbies and Interests:

I am an educator, lifelong learner, creative, and outdoorsperson. When I'm not tutoring, I might be working on the sustainable homestead where I live (gardening or building small construction projects) or I might be painting, knitting, reading, solving puzzles, playing the ukulele, or cooking! I'm always learning how to do new hobbies and crafts, too. When the season is right, I am also a skier and hiker, and love to go backpacking and foraging.