I graduated from the University of Maryland in 1976 with a BA in Math Education and taught math in Charles County, MD. During the Information Technology boom in the late 70s and 80s, I worked as a computer programmer/analyst for a number of years. In the 1990s, I began tutoring math part-time; since 2002 I have been tutoring math full-time.
In the late 1990s, I earned an MS degree in Computer Systems Management from University College, University of Maryland.
TESTIMONIALS
Goldberg letter
In 2003, I began working on an MA in Math Education at the University of Maryland and completed 21 of 30 credits in the program.
Since 2003, I have been teaching math on adjunct faculty at the Rockville campus of Montgomery College. I teach primarily high school level courses at Montgomery College, including pre-algebra, algebra, intermediate algebra, and trigonometry.
My current focus is tutoring middle and high school students in all courses and levels of math. A student may want help
preparing for an upcoming new math class, or for a specific test, and while sometimes a student may have a particular difficulty for a short time, other times regular sessions may be required. All students get the understanding they need by way of a very individualized approach.
SAT and SSAT/HSPT test preparation tutoring has become very popular and much in demand. Good scores are usually essential
for getting into a specific college or high school. Although large organizations may offer group or individual SAT instuction
for high fees, many students find my personal instruction process to be very effective and efficient--even enjoyable!
Please contact me regarding math tutoring by selecting Contact on the picture menu at the top of this page. Then fill out and click Send to submit the form. I will respond to you as soon as I receive your message. If you leave a phone number I will call you; otherwise, I'll return your e-mail.
McCraw letter
Docking letter
College of Southern Maryland letter
EMAIL and CARD COMMENTS
"L_ isn't sure how often she will need Elaine, but she [Elaine] is a tremendous resource."
"Hi Elaine, It's VR_ here. We met yesterday evening at the Bethesda library. I just remembered how I know you. You
taught a math class I was in at Montgomery College approximately 13 years ago. Then I hired you as my private math
tutor that year as well. It was so great running into you after all these years to say THANK YOU for being the
BEST math teacher I ever had, and for making such an impact in my life in my career as an elementary school
teacher, and now a tutor myself!"
"Hi Elaine, I just learned that S_ earned a 95 on her algebra test! She is very happy and we want to thank you
for the great help you provided."
"J_ earned a 4.0 average in her first semester at UMD. She has calculus this semester and is ready! We all think
of your teaching and support you gave J_ in those rough years. Thank you!"
"Thank you for helping H_ through a rough patch with pre-Calculus. We don't think he would have made it
through without your patient tutoring. We hope we can contact you again in the fall if he needs help
with calculus."
"Morning Elaine, a quick note to say a heart felt thank you for your support these past months. L_ gets a great
deal back from his time with you. We would love to schedule time with you before school starts and then
continue tutoring throughout the school year."
"Good Morning, I just wanted to thank you once again for fitting P_ in last weekend. He said it really helped,
so I believe that he now understands the value of having you as a resource. He has had two quizzes this week--the
country progress check and another small quiz. He got 100% on both of them!"
"By the way, when I asked M_ if he would be willing to meet you on Sundays he said (without a pause)--I'd like
to meet her every day!"
[card] "Dear Elaine, We've been so fortunate to have found such a wonderful tutor as yourself!
It's been a pleasure getting to know you. You have been an enormous help to both E_ and me...
Thank you!"
"Thank you!!! K_ really enjoyed working with you. She even asked if she could see you one more time
since her test was postponed due to the weather. ..I'm sure all of your students appreciate you
as much as K_ does. We will definitely be in touch in the future and I will let you know how the
test goes."
[card]"Dear Elaine, High School math is definitely one of the hardest challenges in my life currently
but not only did you explain each lesson but you also helped me fully understand it. Thanks to you,
I have been able to get good grades but also gave me the comprehension to apply it to my life and
continue to understand. I know that if you hadn't been so helpful, my understanding of math would
not be where it is today. Thank you for 3 years of amazing tutoring."
[card]"Thank you for your many kindnesses over the years. L_ has had straight A's in math since she
began working with you and she would likely not have done that without your excellent help."
[card]"Dear Elaine, Thank you for your endless support, humor and advice over the past several years!
I think we made it through AP Calculus! Woohoo!!!"
"If you are at the library tomorrow and have time for one more student, please let me know. A_ says
he can go to [extracurricular activity], but he also says you are a miracle worker."
"When I think of people helpful and kind to B_ in his tumultous early years, you always come to mind.
You'll be happy to know he graduated with honors from University of Denver..."
"Elaine has served as my daughter's math tutor for the last few
years for a number of high school math courses including AP Calculus. Elaine is unique as she
quickly understands where students need help and develops methods to address the deficiencies.
Her calm, compassionate and poised manner helped my daughter overcome the mathematical and
emotional challenges and emerge with a renewed confidence and stellar course grades. With Elaine's
assistance, my daughter was able to achieve a near perfect score on her SAT math section. She has
ignited a passion for math in my daughter and has greatly improved the chance of her getting into
top national colleges."
"When I first met Elaine, I was nervous because I had never had a tutor before and
felt as though much of my confusion in class, though very debilitating, was unsubstantial.
But through three years I have learned otherwise. Elaine has helped me in Algebra 1,
Geometry, and, Algebra 2, by going over specific concerns with me, writing out the
background on the various formulas, explaining problems, and, even teaching ahead to
help me understand the lesson. She was always there to refresh me, even if it was an
important formula that didn't seem to stick (most people would have become annoyed by
my constant "Umm ... can we review this again?" but Elaine was happy to oblige). I
enjoyed going to the sessions because she often taught me the material that hadn't yet
been covered in class but was in reality very essential to the lesson. For this, I was always
able to understand the lessons very well after a session with her. She helped me with my
homework as well, not only to complete it but make sure I completely understood the
concepts. Whenever I would receive a big review packet before a test, she would write out
the work to problems that I had needed her to help me solve in order that I could study the
process, not solely the answer. In terms of scheduling, I recently joined a sports team and
thus became busy with little free time. She was very flexible and always managed to work
me in, even at inconvenient times (such as the weekends and evenings) which helped as
without her help, I would have definitively not passed my math class with the grade I
wanted. In conclusion, she is the best person (and thing) that has ever happened to me in
terms of math by untangling my diminutive questions to clearly teaching the objective
instead of only helping me finish my homework to being flexible when I couldn't." -Z_