Episode 169 | Catalina Ghercioiu | Math Tutor | The Knowledge Entrepreneurs Show

June 12 2024
55 min

Episode Description

Catalina Ghercioiu, a mathematics teacher, shares her journey and experiences in the field of mathematics education. Born into a family of mathematicians, Catalina excelled in academics and mathematics competitions. Although she initially wanted to become an architect, her parents manipulated her into pursuing a career in mathematics. She eventually became a mathematics teacher and moved to the United States to teach in a school with underprivileged students. Catalina faced cultural shock and challenges in adapting to a new environment, but she developed strong relationships with her students and found ways to make mathematics relevant and engaging for them. Catalina Ghercioiu shares her experiences as a math teacher and tutor, discussing her journey from Romania to the United States and her teaching experiences in different countries. She also talks about her tutoring business, Smartist, and her views on standardized tests in education.

Key Takeaways

  • Growing up in a family of mathematicians, Catalina excelled in academics and mathematics competitions.
  • She was manipulated by her parents into pursuing a career in mathematics instead of her initial interest in architecture.
  • Catalina faced cultural shock and challenges when she moved to the United States to teach mathematics to underprivileged students.
  • She developed strong relationships with her students and found ways to make mathematics relevant and engaging for them. Catalina emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving skills in mathematics education.
  • She believes that standardized tests, while useful in some ways, do not necessarily reflect a student's ability to think critically.
  • Catalina started her own tutoring business, Smartist, and has found success through recommendations from satisfied students.
  • She discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, including the transition to online learning and the challenges it presents.
  • Catalina shares her experiences teaching in different countries and the differences in teaching methods and cultures.

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