Dana Goodwin

I have a passion for helping students who struggle with math. During my 22-year teaching career, I have helped thousands of students who have had less-than-ideal math experiences succeed when they didn’t believe they could. My favorite part about teaching is to help a student go from “I’ve never been good at math.” to “Wow! I can actually do this!” I truly believe there is no such thing as a “stupid” question. If you don’t know, ask. I understand that we can get so focused on learning something new that we get stuck on something else. 

Having struggled with it myself and studied it fairly extensively, I have an understanding of performance anxiety, particularly test anxiety, and am able to provide tips for managing it.

My teaching/tutoring style is laid back and informal. I ask a lot of questions, often leading the student to discover the answers for themselves based on information they already know. I show examples, and then allow the student to try it themselves, observing the student’s work so I can gently correct any unhealthy habits and steer them in the correct direction.

I began tutoring math when I was in jr high school, with many friends and cousins asking for help. I continued tutoring math in college through our university’s work-study program. Through my 22 years of teaching experience, I often tutored students one-on-one before or after class. The year prior to the pandemic, I privately tutored local homeschool, middle school, high school, and college students for subjects including GED and ACT prep, prealgebra, algebra, trigonometry, and statistics.

2020-present Visiting Math Lecturer, UCA, Conway, AR. Courses Taught: College Algebra and Foundations of College Algebra

2014-2020 Adjunct Math Instructor for several universities: ASU – Beebe, UCA, U of A – Pulaski Technical College, Harding University

2007-2014 Assistant Professor of Math, ASU – Beebe, Beebe, AR. Courses Taught: Developmental Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, Technical Math, Trigonometry

2001-2007 Math Instructor, UCA, Conway, AR. Courses Taught: Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, Statistics, Business Calculus, Calculus I, Trigonometry

2000-2001 Graduate Teaching Assistant, UCA, Conway, AR. Course Taught: College Algebra

Courses Taught:

• College Algebra
• Business Calculus
• Statistics
• Technical Mathematics
• Foundations of Algebra
• Transition to College Mathematics

If I am not teaching math or hanging out with my family (7-year-old daughter, 5-year-old son, and high school sweetheart husband), you will most likely find me on the pickleball court. Google it. It’s SO FUN! I try to play in at least one pickleball tournament a month as well as regular recreational games throughout the week. Last week, I got to play speed glow-in-the-dark pickleball for the first time–it was a blast! I also enjoy tapping into my creative side using acrylics, markers, or other craft supplies. Making paper snowflakes is one of my favorite pastimes! I also enjoy kayaking, 33photography (especially beautiful skies), and using my DIY kaleidoscope on household items.

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