email: Derek@mindspringtutoring.com
Phone: 571-293-8941
Through tutoring, we can retain and enhance our knowledge together.
Derek Crawford
Derek seeks to reinforce his knowledge by helping others with their studies. He realizes the best way to solidify lessons learned is through mastering the process required to teaching others. The theme of "spring-forward together," came from Derek’s idea of enhancing one's self through the act of teaching, which leads to collective improvement.
Derek lives in Purcellville, and is currently a Junior at Loudoun Valley High School. He strives to optimize his study patterns while embracing a growth mindset and learning from apparent setbacks, while pursuing increasingly challenging courses. His greatest interests are in math and history, but he enjoys learning new things in general. He learned firsthand the value of tutoring, when he initially struggled with math, and got off to a slow start in high school. Through mentoring and hard work, Derek overcame some significant challenges and gradually excelled in math. This increased his confidence, reinforced the value of hard work, and set him on a path to progressive growth in his studies.
He enjoys reading non-fiction books while studying current and historic world events. His parents have a vast library consisting of hundreds of books, and they have always placed priority on the attainment of knowledge through independent reading and critical thought. He finds inspiration from biographies of those who achieved greatness, and reads attentively to expand his own writing style, while supplementing his desire for knowledge. One of his most recent favorite books is Hidden Potential by Adam Grant, which sparked within him a desire for optimal performance, with the realization everyone can exceed their personal expectations while constantly elevating their personal standards.
Click here for a list of Derek's favorite books:
Why hire Derek as a tutor?
Many students learn the value of memorizing material to succeed with standardized tests, which doesn’t necessarily translate to success in life or in the college environment. Derek strives to engage in critical thought while inquiring a deeper understanding of problems he encounters. As a mentor and academic coach, Derek seeks to instill the value of hard work and development of study habits which serve a student’s long-term thought patterns for the retention of information.
Whether you’re a student who wants to improve grades which don’t necessarily reflect your true potential, or are a parent who wants to supplement study resources available to your child, Derek wants to help you or your child master the fundamentals to achieve the outcomes you desire. As Derek has learned from his mother, who has spent over 25 years as an Occupational Therapist focused on pediatric development, the gaps between those who excel and those who fall behind, only become more pronounced over time.
Location of Tutoring:
Depending on the time of day and length of required tutoring, Derek is available to assist you or your child at your home, the Purcellville Library, or after-hours at his mother’s Occupational Therapy clinic located at 205 Hirst Road, Suite 205 (by appointment only).
Derek is also available via Facetime, Zoom or Google Meet (whatever you think is best to share ideas and write-out problems) for unexpected consultations when one encounters difficult-to-overcome problems in topics such as algebra or pre-calculus.
Topics and Means of Tutoring:
If you're reviewing this website, you probably already considering ways a tutor can be beneficial to you or a child. Perhaps there is a need for help with basic math or another specific topic. Or, maybe there is a desire for an academic coach to motivate and assist with the development of study guides or focused study habits. Click here for a Loudoun County resource on different ways people learning information.
Please contact Derek to discuss your objectives. Derek strives to provide one-on-one tutoring in the following areas, and for specific consultations during the frustrating moments when a particular homework problem or assignment becomes overwhelming.
-
Basic math tutoring, to include algebra tutoring, pre-calculus tutoring
-
General study techniques (index card review, study guide prep, etc.)
-
Motivate, challenge and provide feedback to improve focus and performance
-
Help prevent the "summer slide" where students forget information over the summer months
Cost of Tutoring: (Venmo, cash or check)
$20 per hour for in-person tutoring, with a one-hour minimum.
$10 for problem-specific consultations
Rather than stress into the evening with homework, trying to figure out a math problem, for example, Derek strives to be available for virtual consultations for specific "problems," which can generally be done in less than 30 minutes, at which point the hour-long requirement will be waved in place of a $10 charge.
Derek’s own "cost of tutoring" - 20% of all income derived from helping you or your child succeed, goes towards Derek’s on-going college fund.
"People don't need willpower; They just need to overcome the "will-not" syndrome."
- Jeff Olson, author of The Slight Edge