Cedric S.

Experience Summary

I taught university chemistry for many years, especially the math-heavy courses. After retirement, a friend asked if I would assist a home-schooling family in the sciences. I embraced the occasion, and increased my clientele substantially by word of mouth. Since then people have been seeking me out. Now I am ready to make a second career at something that I love - watching and helping young minds develop.

Teaching Style

I use the heuristic style - teach a little; now you try it! The student learns best what they learn from within. At my English boarding school, that is the way we were taught, and it worked. Also, I show them different study methods to see what works for them. I have read widely on psychology. Early on, I assess a student's best learning mode - visual, aural, spatial, numerical, verbal, etc., and play to it. While being active in drama I learned how to 'read' the hearers and viewers. Many of my former students are teachers. Sometimes they recommend students to me when their students pass beyond the teacher's comfort zone. Occasionally student's stop seeing me, and months or years later I hear things like: 'Guess what, I made 100% on the final.'; 'I was the only grad. school entrant who passed the exemption test for Physical Chemistry'; 'I made the Headmaster's list for the first time ever'.

My Hobbies

Many: Art - water-color painting, Indian ink and wash. Guitar (classical) gave a few public solos, now mainly for friends. Acting, to add color and drama to my classroom presentations. I recently learned that mental exercises that I once did for fun, assist one to a longer and more active life. I challenge myself by completing (most days) crossword puzzles without the 'DOWN' clues, and Sudoku is no match at all. Sports - all kinds, originally because I liked them; I was the founding president of the local running club. But now I continue sports to maintain top fitness. Writing - I write serious essays on specially selected topics, for example, Intelligence; Origin of the Self; Critique of 'The Bell Curve'; The First Sub-Four.

Other Comments

My philosophy of life is to 'fill each unforgiving minute with eighty seconds worth of distance run' (apologies for twisting Kipling's lines from 'IF'). I put my whole self into everything that I do. They say that my enthusiasm rubs off on my students.

All Subjects I Tutor

• Algebra
• Algebra I
• Algebra II
• Algebra III
• Bio Chemistry
• Biology
• Calculus I

• Calculus II
• Chemistry
• College Algebra
• Drama
• Earth Science
• Geometry
• Guitar

• Inorganic Chemistry
• Logic
• Math
• Organic Chemistry
• Painting
• Physics
• Pre-Algebra

• Pre-Calculus
• Science
• Statistics
• Trigonometry