Alysia Skilton

I specialize in helping students to achieve long-term academic success, rather than just helping them to "get through" their next test. In addition to covering the subject material, this often includes working with students to improve note-taking, study, and test-taking skills as well as building confidence and overcoming anxiety. Every student is unique. By understanding where my students are coming from - their strengths and weaknesses, their approach to the work and view of the subject - I am able to create a tutoring program that is tailored to their unique needs.

Subjects tutored

• Arithmetic
• Pre-Algebra
• Algebra I/II
• Geometry
• Trigonometry
• Pre-Calculus
• Calculus (AP A/B/C and undergraduate)
• Linear Algebra
• Time management
• Study skills
• Test taking strategies
• SAT preparation
• Additional subjects available on request

About me

Located in West Los Angeles, I am a professional teacher and tutor with over 20 years experience tutoring students from elementary school through university. In addition to tutoring, I have taught at both Marlborough School and Marymount High School in Los Angeles. Most recently, I have taught first year mathematics and computer science at Cardiff University in Wales. Having recently completed a PhD in Computer Science, I am excited to be home.

Coming from a family of educators, I have always been interested teaching and tutoring. I got my first paid tutoring job at the age of 14 and tutored regularly throughout high school. I volunteered in the after school mathematics tutoring program at my school, and helped friends in Algebra II, Trigonometry, and Calculus. As an undergraduate student, I worked in the Learning Resource Center at LMU as a peer tutor. During that time I took several courses offered by the Center on study skills, time management, and test-taking skills. Although I didn't know it at the time, these courses would later become an integral part of my approach to tutoring. Throughout graduate school I continued to work with students, both in the classroom as a teaching assistant and later a lecturer, and one-on-one as a tutor. I noticed that many students were able to complete their work minimal difficulty during a class or tutoring session, but struggled when on their own. As a result, I became very interested in understanding how students learn and, more importantly, what causes students to struggle. I realized that everything from how you organise your notes to your mindset when starting a test can have a profound impact on your success. By emphasising these trasferable skills in addition to the subject material, my students see long-term improvement and academic independence which often extends beyond mathematics.

Qualifications

BS Mathematics, LMU

MA Mathematics, UCSB

MS Computing, Cardiff University

PhD Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University