Experience Summary
I graduated with an excellent GPA of 3.87 in astrophysics from the University of Colorado. Unusual for someone who studies physical science, I also earned a linguistics minor. I am a good writer and received a CU Writing Award for an essay I wrote in the spring of 2005. From 2004-2009, I worked at Fiske Planetarium. During my employment there, I taught at a number of educational events such as star shows, field trips, and community outreach events. Fiske gave me an opportunity to see how different age groups understand science. In the fall of 2009, I volunteered at an after school science program at Rocky Mountain Elementary School. There, I guided small groups of 4th and 5th graders through activities on basic science principles.
Teaching Style
I am fresh out of college, so I can relate to the concerns of young adults. I have also found that I especially enjoy teaching children. My method of instruction is a question-based one. Instead of simply giving a student the answer to a problem, I will ask the student what he or she thinks the answer is and how he or she arrived at that answer. Then, by asking the student questions such as “What if you did this instead…?” I guide them to the correct answer. I have found that this is far more effective than simply telling students what to do. I am patient and good natured. Because I was so recently a student myself, I know that a good teacher can make a tremendous difference to a student’s understanding and enjoyment of any subject.