Science-backed math and coding tutoring

Learn the way your brain wants to.

Hi, I’m Mike. I’m a Caltech grad who helps junior high, high school, and college students succeed at math and coding. I work in the Pasadena, California, area or online anywhere in the world.

Subjects I teach: • Algebra • Geometry • Trigonometry • Precalculus • Calculus • AP Computer Science Principles • AP Computer Science A • Any Programming Class

Call me for a free consultation to discuss what the lessons will cover, what skills your child will gain, and how long it might take to reach your goals.

The benefits of in-person tutoring

In-person tutoring has many clear benefits over online tutoring, which is why I will come to your home, at no extra charge. I serve the Pasadena, Altadena, La Cañada, San Marino, Glendale, Eagle Rock, Arcadia, and Alhambra areas.

The benefits of in-person lessons include reading nonverbal communication, giving personalized attention and immediate feedback, and avoiding “screen fatigue.”

My teaching methods

I use science-backed teaching and learning techniques that help students gain confidence.

Learn from your mistakes

Many students are stopped by a fear of making mistakes in math and coding. But mistakes are a necessary part of learning. I teach my students to see mistakes from a different angle: What can we learn from them that gets us closer to the solution?

I encourage a “growth mindset.” That means to:

Meet challenges head on
Get up and keep going when you fall down

Persistent effort is more important than talent. I celebrate every small win with you!

Become a teacher to yourself

Most tutors see their job as explaining how to solve the problem. I certainly can explain problems to you, but more than that, I help you become a teacher to yourself. You’ll gain the skills to solve problems on your own without me, like when you’re taking a test.

Practice becoming a teacher for others. Explain the problem to me or other students. This is a powerful way to build confidence in your knowledge.
Use “spaced repetition,” which is reviewing key information at regular intervals. I’ll help you make flashcards to do this.

Problem-Solving Mode

Students often feel tripped up by problems that look unfamiliar. I give you the tools to shift into Problem-Solving Mode — instead of thinking of math and programming problems as memorization, you’ll start thinking of them as puzzles to be cracked.

Here are some of the techniques to get into Problem-Solving Mode:

First identify what looks familiar.
Solve a simpler problem before going on to the whole solution.
Be bold. Experiment and get things wrong at first.

Click here to read more about my science-backed teaching techniques.

If this approach sounds good to you, contact me today for a free consultation.

About me

I had an early love of math and coding, winning a national award in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search in my senior year of high school. I graduated from Caltech and then worked at NASA for 16 years. I fit naturally into the role of teaching the rocket scientists how to code.

For the past 10 years I’ve been tutoring math and coding to students in middle school, high school, and college. I’m as passionate about teaching as I am about math and coding!

Testimonials

Mike is a rare find. He has helped my son (junior high schooler) already tremendously even in his first lesson. He is analytical and can quickly assess a student's level of understanding. With that he was able to explain difficult matters to my son in a way he understood and appreciated. IMHO this is in part, if not entirely, due to his outstanding academic and professional training. My son went on to get a 5 on the AP Computer Science.

Mike has been a great tutor for my son. He’s professional, knowledgeable and patient. He pays attention to the details and is meticulous in his approach and expectations. My son has benefited greatly from working with Mike and is well prepared for more advanced classes and even an internship or coding job, while still in high school. We are so happy we found Mike, and have recommended him to some other friends, who have also benefited from his experience and methods. If you are looking for a tutor that is thorough, competent and thoughtful, Mike is the guy!

Mike teaches competitive math to my son who’s in 8th grade. Mike brings a unique, much sought after skill that is very hard to find. He understands how to teach young minds and focuses on learning by discovery rather than a formulaic approach to problem solving. He leads an interactive problem-solving session with my son that challenges him to think hard about multiple approaches to solving. My son has made tremendous progress in a short amount of time.