From world-schooling to engineering to transforming how middle schoolers think about math
My name is Joshua Smith, and my educational journey has been anything but traditional. I'm African American and Latino, and I was homeschooled starting in 2nd grade—but not in the way most people think of homeschooling. My education was global.
I learned Latin, dove deep into world history and geography, and experienced cultures firsthand through travels to South Africa, Germany, England, and the Caribbean. This "world-schooling" approach meant I graduated high school at 16 and started college at 14.
More importantly, it taught me how to connect with people from all backgrounds and ages, think critically across cultures, and see learning as an adventure rather than a chore. That personalized, challenge-focused approach to education shaped everything I do today.
Picture this: I'm staring at a math problem for 20 seconds, completely stumped. Not because I don't know math—but because I've never seen anything like this before. That moment of productive struggle? That's where real learning begins.
When I was in middle school, I learned math through genuine problem-solving. Not just memorizing formulas, but actually thinking through challenges that stretched me. That foundation didn't just help me get good grades—it gave me an engineering mindset that I use every single day.
But here's what I noticed: most students never get to experience that kind of learning. They're stuck in a system that rewards memorization and punishes creative thinking. I knew there had to be a better way.
I started working with middle school students because I saw something fundamentally broken in how math was being taught. Students were memorizing procedures without understanding principles. They could follow steps but couldn't think.
Then something incredible started happening. Students began coming back with awards, progress reports showing they'd moved into accelerated tracks, and—most importantly—genuine excitement about solving hard problems. Parents told me their kids were volunteering to do extra math challenges. Kids who used to say "I'm just not a math person" were asking for harder problems.
That's when I realized this wasn't just about teaching math formulas. This was about transforming how young people see themselves as thinkers and problem-solvers. My own unconventional educational path had shown me what's possible when learning is personalized and challenging, and I was determined to bring that same transformation to mathematics.
Here's what I discovered: most tutoring focuses on getting the right answer to problems students have already seen. But what happens when they face something completely new on a test? They freeze. They guess. They panic.
So I developed a systematic framework that teaches students how to attack any problem—even ones they've never seen before.
Identify exactly what the problem is asking for. Turn confusion into clarity.
Extract all relevant information. This becomes your strategic roadmap.
Work systematically from what you know to what you need to find.
But here's the secret: I don't force this framework on students. I let them experience productive struggle with challenging problems first—in a supportive environment—until they discover they need a better approach. Then FGS becomes their solution, not my imposition. That's when real ownership happens.
I work exclusively with middle school students who are ready to be challenged. Not kids who just need homework help (though there's nothing wrong with that), but students whose parents want them to develop genuine mathematical thinking—the kind that serves them in engineering, medicine, business, and life.
My coaching sessions aren't about passively following along while I solve problems. They're about students thinking ahead, catching my intentional errors, asking deep questions, and making connections between different types of problems. When a student can explain to me why this problem requires a different strategy than one we did last week? That's when I know we've achieved something special.
Every student gets a custom diagnostic that pinpoints their exact gaps, a personalized 12-week roadmap to mastery, and daily purposeful practice with my personal feedback. This isn't one-size-fits-all tutoring. This is precision coaching.
Right now, I'm building systems that will help more students experience this kind of mathematical confidence. A proprietary web platform that tracks real progress—not just grades. Diagnostic tools that reveal exactly where students are growing. Methods to deliver personalized challenge at scale without losing the magic of breakthrough moments.
But here's the thing—I'm not building this alone. Every student I work with helps me refine what works. Every parent who trusts me with their child's mathematical transformation helps me prove that there's a better way to learn math.
This is about changing the narrative from "I'm just not a math person" to "I can figure this out." That mindset shift? It changes everything.
I believe so deeply in this approach that I make a guarantee most tutors won't: If your child doesn't improve by at least one letter grade within 8 weeks, I'll continue working with them at no additional charge until they do.
Why? Because I've seen this work too many times to doubt it. When students get the right combination of challenge, support, and systematic thinking, transformation is inevitable.
Your child's success isn't just a goal—it's my personal mission.
When you choose to work with me, you're not just hiring a tutor. You're partnering with an educator who believes your child can achieve more than you might think possible. Together, we'll build genuine mathematical confidence that lasts a lifetime.
Limited Availability: I only work with a select number of families to ensure every student receives the focused attention they deserve.
Questions? Reach out directly:
📧 hello@northboundtutoring.com