Expanding Abilities Tutoring

Our Specialization

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:37:15 +0000

We provide one on one tutoring with a personal touch. All tutoring sessions are based on the goals of the student. Tutors employ various methods to teach to the learning style of each student. Success is dependent upon fostering a relationship between the tutor and student. The tutor will be able to help the student achieve their goals best if meetings are consistent. The tutor will be current with the student’s work and be able to chart the progress of the student towards the accomplishment of the specific goals. All tutors hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, have experience teaching and tutoring and have excellent references from former students. We offer in home tutoring throughout the South Bay of Los Angeles in the following areas: all levels of mathematics and science, reading comprehension, writing and grammar, SAT and ACT preparation, time management, study and organizational skills, Spanish, homework help, GRE preparation, GED preparation.

Thanksgiving

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:48:36 +0000

Students are back to school today for the final push before Winter Break! Many of the schools in the South Bay had the entire week off! The weather was perfect here in Southern California which made for a nice time at the beach. My daughter, Alison, and I walk our dogs along the Esplanade in Redondo Beach. I was feeling so grateful for the 80 degree weather and the chance to spend time with family and friends. We took a trip to the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum to see the updated dinosaur exhibits. It is excellent. Look for a blog about it coming up soon. I was also able to meet with a film maker and we recorded videos on frequently asked questions addressing various topics in math. These videos will appear on the Expanding Abilities Tutoring website. I am very excited to add the video footage to our webpage! I have so much to be grateful for this year and I am wishing everyone a blessed holiday season!

About Us

admin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:24:30 +0000

I am the owner and director of Expanding Abilities Tutoring. I began tutoring twenty years ago and I now use the knowledge I acquired over the years to advise families and individuals on their options for meeting specific educational situations. Every student is different and Expanding Abilities Tutoring focuses on each student as an individual. Specifically, we design a personalized program for every student we work with to help them to reach their educational goals. All of our tutors are professionals and are experts at employing various methods of teaching. Each student learns differently and our tutors work together with the student to find what works best. We currently service the South Bay of Los Angeles and specialize in the following subjects: pre-algebra, basic math, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus, physics, statistics, biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, organizational skills, study skills, test taking skills, reading comprehension, writing, SAT preparation, ACT preparation, GRE preparation, GED preparation, and general homework help.

Ask the Tutor

admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:20:58 +0000

Do you have a quick question about a math problem? Or perhaps you need some advice about what to do for your child who is struggling at school. My name is Melissa Haueter and I have almost twenty years of tutoring experience. My journey began when I was in the 8th grade and I volunteered to teach 4th graders about fractions. For the last ten years, I have been tutoring students of all ages in math and science. I am happy to receive your questions via email at melissa@expandingabilities.com. The answers will appear in my blog within about 24 hours and your name will not appear in the post. I welcome questions on basic math, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus as well as any general questions about learning or any difficulties you or your child may be experiencing in school. I look forward to answering your questions!

Math and Science Tutors Available

admin — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:01:08 +0000

Are you or your child struggling with math or science? We have tutors who can help. All of our tutors hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and have extensive experience tutoring and teaching in their given field. We have tutors who specialize in Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus, Geometry, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Tutors are available to meet with students in their homes or at a local library. We service Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, San Pedro, Lomita, Carson, Harbor City, Compton, Willmington, Long Beach, and the surrounding areas. Many of our students attend El Camino College, Harbor College, Redondo Union High School, Mira Costa High School, El Segundo High School, West High, South High, Torrance High, North Torrance High, Bishop Montgomery High School, San Pedro High School, Palos Verdes High School, Penninsula High School, and Chadwick. We also work with many elementary and middle school students. Please call or email today and start working with an excellent tutor. melissa@expandingabilities.com or 310-720-1883

Adventures with Alison: The Shedd Aquarium

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:59:20 +0000

My husband Chris teaches Brazilian Jiu Jitsu seminars all over the world. Last week, he taught in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Alison and I decided to join him as Chris’ sister, Missy, lives in South Bend, Indiana, and we wanted to spend a few days with her. We flew to Chicago and Alison and I decided to check out the city’s aquarium. We started our visit to the Shedd Aquarium in the cafeteria and right outside we were able to view the sea otters. Sea otters weigh between 30 and 100 pounds and are the largest members of the weasel family. These otters were very active and Alison enjoyed watching them dive and surface. This was definitely Alison’s favorite exhibit of the day. After viewing the otters for some time, we headed downstairs to see the amazing underwater view of the Pacific white-sided dolphins. The dolphins zoom around their exhibit and look as though they are going to swim straight through the glass. It was a bit intense for little Alison so we didn’t stay there long. Next we headed over to the Phelps Auditorium and watched “Dora and Diego’s 4-D Adventure: Catch that Robot Butterfly!” The effects were very cool and Alison enjoyed the show. It wasn’t terribly educational, but it was fun nonetheless.

We had a bit of time before the marine mammal show so we took a stroll through the sea jelly exhibit. Sea jellies are in the Phylum Cnidaria meaning they are related to sea anemones and corals. All the animals in this phylum have stinging cells called nematocysts. You may have seen a Moon jelly before as they are very common. These beautiful creatures appear to be translucent and a pale pink in color with a very simple body structure. Alison and I stood in front of this aquarium for some time watching the jellies elegantly glide through the water. Chris says that they remind him of space creatures. I was in charge of caring for the moon jellies when I worked at the Sea Laboratory in Redondo Beach. My duties included removing the jellies from their tank, cleaning the tank, and feed the jellies brine shrimp (aka sea monkeys) with a turkey baster. Moon jellies are not dangerous to touch but if you are not sure whether you are swimming with a moon jelly or a dangerous species, I would just try to stay away from the animals. Alison’s favorites were the upside down jellies also known as Cassiopea. These animals are very interesting as they live on the sandy bottom of mudflats and mangrove swamps with their bells touching the ground so that they resemble their relatives the sea anemone.

The belugas, sea lion, and dolphins were on display in Marine Mammal Aquatic Show. This is more of an educational presentation than a show. The trainers basically demonstrate techniques that they use in training these animals and a narrator explains the importance of the behaviors for animal wellness in captivity. This was pretty interesting to me, but Alison just wanted to see the animals jump out of the water which they did a few times. I find beluga whales to be amazing and beautiful animals. Their mouths are permanently upturned like a smile that makes them look friendly and sweet. The sounds they make are also wonderful to hear giving them their nickname “canaries of the sea.” Alison, Chris, and I heard many of these sounds during the show. We also saw Nunavik, the fifth beluga whale to be born at the aquarium. Beluga calves are born gray and their skin changes to white as they age.

After the show, we headed upstairs to view the Caribbean Reef exhibit. This aquarium is shaped like a giant carousel and is the home to an enormous green sea turtle named Nickel. Nickel was rescued from Florida’s Gulf Coast in 1998 and made the Shedd Aquarium her home in 2003. She is named Nickel because she had a 1975 nickel lodged in her esophagus. Alison enjoyed running in circles around this exhibit chasing Nickel, rays, sharks, and parrotfish. Next, we took an elevator back downstairs to see the Wild Reef that consists of multiple aquaria filled with animals from tropical regions. The most impressive was the large aquarium where the zebra shark and the sawfish are found. Alison was impressed by these large fishes but it was time for her nap. We cut the visit to the aquarium a bit short. We will have to make another trip to the Shedd when she is a bit older and doesn’t need a nap.

Adventure With Alison: Gymnastics Class

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:34:41 +0000

Alison and I are currently enrolled in a gymnastics class at Alta Vista Park in Redondo Beach. Gymnastics is a great athletic activity for young boys and girls to start with. It teaches fundamental body movement that is necessary for all other sports and dance. I really want Alison to be a gymnast but we will see how she takes to it. Our gymnastics class is organized by a company called Superkids. They offer gymnastics, yoga, cheerleading, and dance classes through the cities of Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, and Hawthorne. Superkids also offers classes at many of the schools in the South Bay. Classes are available for students ages 18 months to 11 years old. Our instructors are Miss Claire and Miss Vica.
During a typical session of Superkids gymnastics, we do warm up exercises, stretching, and a technique such as a forward roll or a crayon roll. Alison is a little shy about the warm ups but I am sure that she will improve over the twelve weeks of classes. We do various stretches that are creatively incorporated with music. We also do things like jump from side to side and side step. The movements we do are great to push Alison’s mobility and offer her a challenge. Alison and I practice all the things we learn at home in between classes. Alison loves the tumbling and we have mats at home that are great for practicing! After the instruction, we go around the room to several stations consisting of an area to practice the tumbling that we learned that day, a balance beam, a mini-trampoline, a bar to hang from or hold a pike, rings for swinging or holding a pike, and other fun activities. Alison’s favorites are the trampoline and balance beam. She is also quite good at holding the pike position from the bar. Today she was hanging from the bar with her hands and feet like a little monkey. When we say, “Eat a banana” she pulls herself up to the bar and pretends to eat. It is very cute!
After we practice at the different stations, we play a game with props such as hula hoops. This is my favorite part. I haven’t used a hula hoop since I was a child and it’s a great work out. Alison is still much too small to actually hula hoop but there are other fun and creative uses for them. Alison’s favorite thing to do with them is collect them and put them away. I wish she felt that way about her toys at home. At the end of class, we sing a song or two, do a Superkids cheer, and then each student receives a stamp from the teacher. Boy do toddlers love stamps! I have to get some for my house to use as a reward for good behavior.
Exercise is an important part of the human existence. We need to get our muscles moving and our blood flowing. This is especially important for students who are sitting at a desk for a large part of the day. Your child will perform much better in school if he or she spends some time expending energy each day. Prior to 7th grade, I did not participate in any athletic activities and I struggled in school. From 7th through 12th grades, I was a cheerleader year round and I was pretty close to a straight A student each year. I don’t think this is a coincidence. The Superkids programs are a great way to incorporate activity into your child’s day and your child will learn some important skills at the same tim

Adventures with Alison

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:45:15 +0000

My daughter Alison was born on January 28, 2010. As a parent, I am my child’s first teacher. Prior to having Alison, my husband Chris and I loved to go on adventures. My husband is a Brazilian Jiu jitsu instructor and his instruction brought us to places like Singapore, Thailand, South Africa, and all over the U.K. Some of our adventures included Great White Shark diving in Cape Town, South Africa, riding elephants in Chang Mai, Thailand, swimming with nurse sharks off of Amburgris Key, Belize, and zip lining through the rain forests of Tikal, Guatemala. Adventures with Alison are a little different than this right now. Each adventure that we take is a learning experience for her as with every experience of her life and really every experience of all our lives no matter what our age. I find that Alison is the greatest teacher that I have had so far and I could write thousands of blog entries on that alone.
This section of my educational blog will describe the ways in which I make learning fun for Alison and me. It will include descriptions of the places I take Alison and the things that she and I learn together along the way. I will begin with our most recent trip to Atascadero and Monterey, CA. Chris, Alison, and I started the trip on a Wednesday evening. Alison slept the whole way there, so this was a great decision. We drove to Morro Bay and spent the night at a motel. I hoped to wake up to see the famous Morro Rock; however the fog was pretty thick. We walked around the quaint little town and Alison was able to see some sea lions swimming in the harbor. Many people may think that these animals are harbor seals. My marine biology background allows me to quickly point out that the presence of ears flaps and the shape of the head indicate that these pinnepeds are in fact sea lions.
After our encounter with animals in the wild, we decided to drive out to Atascadero to check out the Charles Paddock Zoo. The admission price is $5 for adults, children 3-11 are $4, and children 2 and under are free. This zoo was amazing! Well worth the $10 for Chris and myself. Some of my favorite animals at this zoo included the White-fronted Marmoset and the Bat-Eared fox. A fun fact to know is that the male Marmoset actual assists with the labor of their babies acting as a midwife. No wonder I like these primates so much. Alison’s favorite animals at the zoo were the Maylayan Tiger and the Fossa. You may remember the Fossa as the bad guys in the movie Madagascar; it was very cool to see a real one up close. The Emu was really in to Chris following him back and forth behind her enclosure. This zoo was amazing for little ones as they have a chance to view all the animals from a very close distance. You must check this out if you are in the central coast area.
After our time in Atascadero, we drove up the coast through San Simeon to Piedras Blancas where we stopped to take a look at the Northern Elephant Seals basking in the sun. The seals migrate thousands of miles twice a year to these beaches for breeding, birthing, and rest. The beaches are located seven miles north of San Simeon on Highway 1 and are home to about 15,000 animals! The seals are at a very close proximity to the spectator area; Alison was able to see them and was quite excited. Our next adventure included a drive through the Redwood forest of Big Sur. This is the southern most point for viewing Redwood trees. Redwoods can reach over 360 feet in height and 20 feet in diameter. Individuals have been dated at around 2,000 years old! Alison was very impressed by the size of these trees and I made sure that she and I got a chance to hug one.
The next morning we headed over to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, one of my favorite places on the planet (only if it is not crowed). Our previous trip was on Memorial Day 2009. Never again! This time it was 1,000 times better. We started the day by watching the penguins feed. We visited every exhibit in about two and a half hours. Alison really enjoyed the Jellies and Sea horses. Her favorite animal and mine in the entire aquarium is the Mola mola or Ocean Sunfish. These slow moving fish can grow up to 14 feet and over 5,000 pounds. Alison and I stood in front of the million gallon Open Sea exhibit for over thirty minutes watching the Mola mola. Alison is quite the parrot and every time this guy would swim by we would shout, “Mola mola!” It was feeding time at this exhibit and the Mola is trained to swim to a target near the surface at the center of the tank where it is fed a mixture of sea jellies, fish, and squid. To make the viewing a little more exciting, a baby Great White Shark was also swimming around the same tank. This White Shark arrived at the aquarium on August 31 and was caught off the shores of Malibu. Monterey has successfully caught and released 5 other juvenile White Sharks since 2004 in an attempt to research the behaviors of these top predators.
Another one of Alison’s favorite exhibits was the Kelp Forest which is 28 feet deep. This exhibit is one of the tallest in the world and is special to me as I spent a lot of time diving in a similar environment off Catalina Island during my scientific diver training at UCLA. The kelp in this exhibit grows an average of 4 inches a day and the forest is the home to many animals such as the Leopard shark, California sheephead, Garibaldi, and the Giant sea bass. Giant sea bass can reach 500 pounds! Another amazing large fish at the aquarium is the Broadnose sevengill shark that gets its name from the fact that it has seven pairs of gill slits. Most sharks have five pairs of gills slits. These sharks are found in the Monterey Bay habitat at the aquarium. A cool pre-historic looking fish is also found in this exhibit. The White sturgeon has five rows on bony plates covering its skin as well as a cartilaginous skeleton like sharks and rays. Alison did not want to leave these aquarium windows to the sea!
No one goes to Monterey without expecting to see some sea otters. We saw a large group of wild sea otters floating in the kelp forest just offshore from the aquarium. Unfortunately, Alison is a bit young to look through the scope to view the otters; however she was able to see the sea otter exhibit. The exhibit currently houses a young otter that was abandoned by her mother and a mature female that takes on the maternal role. It was very sweet to watch them interact and Alison loves otters! We ended our aquarium experience at an interactive diner complete with computer screens that ask you to identify which of three seafood choices is the best for the environment. This activity was very informative and educational. Chris, Alison, and I will be eating a lot more locally raised tilapia and trout as a result. Not only are these fish choices delicious, they have a low environmental impact. These fish are also low mercury choices so they are better for your health. In closing, I would say that this was a very fun and educational trip and I am looking forward to many more adventures with Alison! Visit www.montereybayaquarium.org and www.charlespaddockzoo.org for more information on the zoo and aquarium and all the wonderful animals.
written by: Melissa Haueter

Happy Labor Day!

admin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:45:12 +0000

Happy Labor Day to all from Expanding Abilities Tutoring! We hope everyone has a peaceful and relaxing day. We wish all students stating up this week the best of luck for this new year! September is a time of new beginnings, reflection, and internal resolutions. Make this year a great one and live authentically!

Have a Great First Day of School!

admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:01:41 +0000

Wishing the students at Parras Middle School in Redondo Beach and Miraleste in Palos Verdes a GREAT first day of school! We hope this year is full of wonderful learning opportunities!