Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments How to find math tutor (and is that what I want?)

Hello all,

I'm looking for some collective wisdom. My older child is fascinated by series and sets/set theory (ze's been reading "The Cat in Numberland" and loving it). My knowledge of sets/theory is based primarily on my seventh grade "honors" math class in which the teacher was prone to telling stories about how to capture bats, should one accidentally come into your house. So I am not a great, or even good, source.

Does anyone have any experience with finding a tutor who has an extremely deep knowledge of a particular subject (e.g., set theory), but who also can handle a six year old (who, for example, thinks that bathroom humor is HILARIOUS)? How do I even start?

All thoughts/insights/experiences/warnings welcome - thanks!

There are lots of resources online, many of them free, which you might use as a parent to guide your child through his interest on set theory. One geared for kids is by Math Is Fun. Others are more advanced, such as Khan Academy. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy contains a rather thorough overview of set theory, by Joan Bagaria, dated October, 2014... as well as in-depth coverage of specific topics such as continuum hypothesis (see the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy index for the letter S).

At least you know all about catching bats! More seriously, it might be difficult finding someone good with young kids and good at math. Maybe a teacher leading a math club at a local school?
I think I am going to get that book for my DS5 - he was wondering about the concept of infinity a few weeks ago and might enjoy it!

I have had good luck with emailing the AP calc teacher at the local high school for tutors.
The other thing I would try is the local community college, the thing I find is that people who love their topic are always happy to find time to help a younger person who is interested.

spaghetti, Portia, & daytripper75: Thanks for the thoughts, I will follow up with both. I am actually in an immense metropolitan area with multiple Mathnasiums, community colleges, Universities, no math circles for the right age group (sadly), and an ARML team. [Have I given away my location?] I will definitely follow a few of those leads and see where I end up.

indigo: Thanks for the links! I will have to check them out.

rac: As I understand it, the primary tool is a tennis racket, which you swing at the bat until the bat is trapped between the racket and the wall. You have to move the racket fast enough to catch the bat, but gently enough that you don't splatter the bat. Unfortunately, I don't recall what you're supposed to do once you have the bat trapped behind the racket.

We actually all love that book. My younger child adores the pictures of the personified numbers. My older child loves the concepts (and the pictures, I suspect). I love the fact that we can all read about something interesting together.

squishys: !! Was the tutor something that your school supplied? Or did she just arrive, like Mary Poppins? No chance you live in a large metropolitan area in the U.S. ("maths"), eh? How absolutely wonderful for your child.

Thanks for the input, everyone (and sorry for the late reply, it's been a hectic month).