I always say that I'm the reason my dad is such a great math teacher...
Growing up, math did not come easily to me.
My brain just didn’t seem to grasp the concepts being taught in the classrooms.
When I did ask for help, even if it didn’t make sense I would say I understood it so as not to appear “stupid” in front of my classmates.
When I hit junior high, it became very clear that I was good at memorizing, but not good at math.
I can almost remember the look on my dad’s face when he realized that I didn’t understand the basic concepts of arithmetic and that I had just memorized my multiplication tables and “made it work” until I couldn’t do that anymore (ahem, fractions were my undoing).
That's when his training to become an incredible math tutor began, back in 1996
I was so grateful to have my math tutor (aka my dad) available to me when I got stuck on my homework
That’s why we started Your High School Math Tutor.
As a student, having quick access to help when I was stuck on my homework and couldn’t figure it out was HUGE. Rather than feeling frustrated, stressed and stupid – I was able to get:
- a refresher lesson of the concept that was taught in class
- guidance working through the problem I was stuck on, and
- another similar math problem created for me on the spot to test my comprehension of the math concepts
And now your teen can have this highly experienced academic support, too!
Scott Thornton comes with over three decades of practical experience with students of all ages and abilities and has been teaching online since 2004
Between his numerous years of experience teaching at SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology), the University of Calgary Continuing Education Program, and at Webber Academy teaching math, computer programming, and science – Scott’s wealth of knowledge and passion for learning comes through in everything he does.
Scott is committed to your teen's success in high school and beyond!
Why do we also teach exam stress management and anxiety relief strategies?
When we’re stressed, we lose access to our higher-level thinking brain, which is essential for memory recall and complex problem solving that might come up on a math or physics exam.
There is more pressure on students now than there’s ever been with more demanding entrance requirements for University and Colleges combined with the rising cost of living that requires more than an entry level job to make ends meet.
The good news is that there are lots of simple strategies your teen can start practicing now to not only better manage their exam stress and anxiety, but also set them up with strong coping strategies for the future.
Scott Thornton's Credentials
1977 – Combined Bachelor of Math and Computer Science – Queens University – with honors
1984 – Started teaching continuing education for adults in the computer science field at NAIT, SAIT, University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary, and has been teaching on-and-off at these institutions every since
2004 – Started online education with CBE-learn
2005 – Master of Teaching B.Ed. – University of Calgary
2005 – High School & Junior Math and Computer Science at Webber Academy, integrating online learning management systems into the classroom and with additional online student support
2007 – In-home, one-on-one tutoring
2019 – Online one-on-one tutoring
Heather Thornton's Credentials
2010 – Bachelor of Nursing – Registered Nurse
2013 – Advanced Critical Care Nursing Certification
2015 – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Certification
2015 – Created an online personal development education platform centered around stress management, empowerment, and overall health and wellbeing
2017 – Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) Certification
2019 – Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Certification
2020 – 200hr Yoga Teacher pending