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I am now signing up students for the 2026-2027 school year. Send me an email inquiring about signing up. I expect to be full by August 10.

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 BACKGROUND  

I have been tutoring off-and-on, mostly on, since 1978. I began as a junior at Columbia High School in Troutdale and tutored math and science at Mt. Hood Community College. I developed a unique peer-tutoring program in the physics department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for which I won the prestigious Polaroid Award. I believe in the power of one-on-one and small group tutoring.

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COURSES I TUTOR

For 2026-2027 I am tentatively tutoring the following courses. I need at least three students in each course in order to tutor that course. If the course is AP or IB these students can be from any school since the curriculum is fixed. For other courses I need at least three students from the same school with the same teacher or with teachers who are using the same curriculum. Most of my students choose one-on-one tutoring, but I am willing to work with small groups.

• Math​

  • Advanced Algebra (known as Algebra II, Algebra 2, second year Algebra, Algebra 2/Trig, or Algebra 3-4)

  • Precalculus/AP Precalculus

  • AP Calculus AB

  • IB Math SL 1-2 and 3-4; The Analysis version and the Applications versions.

  • AP Statistics

  • Minato's Math Mentoring

  • Minato's Summer Math Review

• Physics​

  • AP Physics 1, 2, or C​

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IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING ONLINE TUTORING

• I prefer in-person tutoring. However, there are occasional times I can't do this, typically once per month. I have a family situation that can pull me out of town on short notice. All families need to be comfortable with occasional on-line tutoring.

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LOCATION

In-person tutoring is at my home office in Multnomah Village. I will send details to students and their parents once we start scheduling.​ 

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SCHEDUING

The only part of tutoring I don't love is scheduling! High schoolers tend to be very busy. For 2025-2026 I tutored Monday - Thursday, 2:45 - 9:00 pm with 15 minutes between students and a 6:15 - 6:45 pm dinner break. I reserve Sunday late afternoon - evening for extra appointments for existing students. 2026 - 2027 will be a similar schedule. Once you are on my schedule I will speak with you live about scheduling.

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TUTORING RATES for all classes

1 student = $100/hour

2 students = $60/hour each

3 students = $50/hour each

4 students or more = $45/hour each

I rarely have groups larger than 4. 

I bill for each group session even if a particular student does not attend.

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DOCUMENTATION​

I keep a Google Doc for each student that I update at the end of each session. I include what we worked on during our time together, what the student should work on before next time, and other notes that help me be a better tutor for the student. These notes also help the student keep track of their progress, and allow the parent(s) to follow along and see their student's progress. Parents and students can make notes in the Google Doc.

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I also use each student's Google Doc to track our time together for billing purposes.

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BILLING​

I bill once per month. On or very near the first of the month. I use Square (a computerized billing and point of sale program used by many small businesses) to bill each family for the previous month. The parent(s) will receive an invoice by email. Parents can pay by debit or credit card, or bank transfer directly in Square, using Venmo or PayPal, using an old-school paper check, or with cash. 

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CANCELATION POLICY​

My cancelation policy is this: Try to not cancel. But I know that students these days have complicated schedules and things change. Give me as much advance warning as possible. I do NOT charge for cancelations or rescheduling with 24 hours notice. I DO charge for no-shows and less than 24 hours notice. Everyone gets one free no-show/late cancellation. The second and third no shows/late cancelations are $25. The fourth and fifth no shows/late cancelations are full price. If you no-show/cancel late five times then you are no longer able to schedule with me.

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Try to not reschedule. It is easier on everyone to have a regular schedule that we stick to. But, of course, rescheduling is sometimes necessary. When you do need to reschedule, do so as far ahead of time as you can.

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Very rarely, I need to cancel or reschedule. Please be understanding when this happens.

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REFERENCES​

See the "About" page for a resume and references.

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SOCIAL JUSTICE CONSIDERATIONS​

Anyone who is a descendent of slaves in the US in the last 500 years receives a 50% discount. This is part of my contribution to reparations for US slavery.

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Anyone who is a Native American of the Cascade Bioregion receives a 50% discount. This is part of my contribution to reparations for the US stealing native land.

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Anyone who cannot afford my rates is welcome to apply for a partial fee-waiver. If your family income is the same as mine or more, you need to pay full price (except for the two social justice considerations above). If your income is one-half of mine, you pay half-price. If your family income is one-quarter of mine, you pay one-quarter-price. My current gross family income for a family of 2 is about $70,000. 

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All discounts are strictly honor system. I believe strongly in the basic decency of humankind.

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Anyone and everyone is welcome and encouraged to support my efforts to provide high quality tutoring to anyone who desires it by making a donation. Coriolis is a sole-proprietorship for-profit business owned by me. Donations to Coriolis or me are not tax deductible.

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SMART CITY LEARNING CAFE

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I offer free drop-in tutoring every Wednesday during the school year at Maplewood Coffee & Tea in SW Portland. My private students are welcome to attend. Click here for more information.

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