Experience Summary
During my time at Colorado College, I worked as a chemistry tutor helping my younger peers traverse the challenging General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry course loads. But because of CC's rigorous alternative schedule--where you take one class at a time, for one month each class--it's necessary to learn to pick up new concepts very quickly, I often found myself being asked for help in classes I myself was taking. I never minded this, because being forced to explain something is the best way to ensure your own understanding of the concept. That is why I try to avoid directly answering questions my students ask me, instead dropping hints and asking questions of my own that guide the student to their own answer, in their own words.
Teaching Style
My favorite part about teaching is the moment of sudden understanding that you can see in a student's eyes when they've got it. The challenge, of course, is getting to that moment, especially in a subject like math or science. While certain subjects may come easier to some people than to others, I do not believe that anyone is "incapable" of understanding and excelling in any field of study. If understanding is lacking, that is only because the student needs to be presented the material in a way that makes sense to them.
Other Comments
From when I first started Algebra all the way up through Calculus, I rarely got a concept the first time I saw it. Usually, I had to spend time thinking about it before it finally clicked and made sense in a way I could use. I think that most people who struggle with math lose faith in their ability to puzzle through new concepts and conceptualize them in a way that works for them. I won't claim that I can teach others to have faith in themselves, but I can at least show them new ways to look at a problem, either with a picture, an analogy, or by simply writing it all out on paper.
A lot of science coursework--particularly in biology and chemistry--involves a lot of memorizing and regurgitating information. Anyone can memorize by rote, but that method rarely bodes well for long term retention, and it won't help you on test questions that require a deeper understanding of the material. Fortunately, science isn't just a jumble of facts and numbers: there are patterns that can help you mentally link the facts and numbers. Becoming a good scientist is a matter of learning to recognize these patterns. The best scientists see patterns no one else does.
My interests in college were not limited to just math and science. I took full advantage of the liberal arts nature of my school and took a variety of other courses ranging from political philosophy to 18th century history and beyond. My favorite of these were all very writing intensive, challenging me to analyze the material being discussed and present my own ideas about it in a clear and articulate manner. I've always loved writing, and find few things more exhilarating than the moment you first realize your thesis for a paper and are ready to start hammering out the content. After having more than my fair share of professors critique my writing, I feel very comfortable helping others with theirs.
Please e-mail me if I seem like a good fit for the sort of tutoring you need. I have a very flexible schedule, so am more than willing to accommodate the busy lives of high school or college students. If a lesson needs to be cancelled, please let me know at least 2 hours ahead of time, and we can schedule a make up lesson.
I am looking forward to working with you!