Brian
Certified Tutor
I am a professional chemist with a Ph.D. from Texas A&M. I have 4 children 16,13,13,11 and since we homeschool I am very involved in their education. Personally, I am very involved in my kids sports and school. I like to run and play competitive sand volleyball.
I have lectured and tutored chemistry since graduate school. I am very good at going through problems with students and explaining the material so they can complete the homework faster and remember it well for the exams. I think the strongest case for hiring a tutor is efficiency. If I am there as you work through the problems I make sure you understand how you set up and complete the problem as you do it, while at the same time reinforce the chemistry concepts. Basically, you will spend your time mastering the material vs laboring to figure out how to complete each problem.
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Undergraduate Degree:Gustavus Adolphus College- Bachelors, Chemistry
Graduate Degree:Texas A & M University-College Station- PHD, Chemistry
Volleyball, Basketball, Running and driving kids all over.
- 10th Grade Math
- ACT Science
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- AP Chemistry
- AP Physics 1
- Chemistry
- CLEP Prep
- CLEP Chemistry
- College Chemistry
- Geometry
- High School Chemistry
- High School Physics
- Honors Chemistry
- IB Chemistry
- IB Chemistry HL
- IB Chemistry SL
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Math
- Middle School Science
- 物理科学
- Physics
- Science
- Test Prep
What is your teaching philosophy?
I like to bring the subjects to a level that the student can understand. As a chemist, intimidation of the topic is a cause of many students' difficultly to understand. This is the case for math also.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Ask what they are having trouble with. I would then go through some problems to try and understand the source of their difficultly.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I will attempt to motivate the student to understand what they have learned in a broader context. This will hopefully allow them to appreciate why they are learning it and why they should enjoy learning it.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
Keep it as fun as possible.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
Get them to focus on the words, names, places and other facts as they read. This should help them answer the questions better.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
Really it is as simple as going through problems with them, so I can understand why they are struggling.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Discuss some applications of what they are learning if possible. Knowing how they might use the topic can motivate. Keep it interesting and fun.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
Review problems and ask questions in review. Quizzes can help.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
In review, show them that they can "get it" so in the test they can fell less anxious.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
Qualitatively by going over problems.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Try to interpret their struggles and bring the subject into a light such that they can feel less intimidated.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Try different ways of explaining.