Experience Summary
Throughout high school and college, I have tutored peers and younger students in both math and physics several times, occasionally for pay. Last year I was a course assistant for a college freshman-year math course in theoretical math at Harvard University. I am enrolling in a PhD program in pure math at the University of Texas, Austin, where I will have a 16-hour-per week teaching load including three sections of undergraduate calculus. When I was a course assistant, my section scored higher on the quizzes and exams than the other sections. I certainly put in a lot of effort and enjoyed teaching and helping students gain the deep understanding of the material to do well in a difficult college math course. My written and spoken communication skills are honed due to a liberal arts education at Harvard including humanities and science education, besides a concentration in theoretical Mathematics.
Teaching Style
I think Math is the most beautiful subject and the highest form of human expression. A lot of times people are turned away from it due to a high school math experience that they perceive as dry and boring. When I tell people I love math, I too often hear "well, better you than me!" I think part of the high school math experience should include turning students on to mathematical discovery. Confronting confusion and working through to develop an understanding that feels personal and thorough. I believe that everyone must learn in an individual way at their own pace and I am prepared to put in the necessary effort to give my students that opportunity. Sure, there is certain material that just needs to be learned, but even what seems dry can be presented in such a way as to generate enthusiasm and interest in the subject. I think inspiration and excitement about mathematics is the most important thing in math education.