Experience Summary
I received my Bachelors of Science in mathematics and physics from Heidelberg University in 2009, and I have tutored students consistently for the past 5 years, from 2005-2010, in calculus I and II, precalculus, elementary statistics, algebra I, general physics, general chemistry, and introductory astronomy. Additionally, I spent one year as an astronomy lab teaching assistant for The College of William and Mary.
Teaching Style
Math and physics are heavily rooted in problem solving, so I tend to focus on the problems because if you can solve the problems, then you understand the material. It can be easy to “understand in class” and then get confused on the homework. I work to bridge that gap. When students come to me with a problem, the first thing I ask them is this: “What is it that you do not understand?” Many times they don't know, and that's okay. That's why the tutor is there! So I press on: “Tell me what you do understand; tell me whatever you can about this problem.” And so they tell me everything they can. It gets them thinking, applying theory, and often times they understand quite a bit! They just need help filling in the holes here and there!