Award-Winning Chemistry Tutors in Campton Hills, IL

...was during this path to obtain my Bachelor's degree that I was introduced to my favorite subject, Organic Chemistry. The instructor that I had for Organic Chemistry was amazing and made the class not only amusing and interesting but also fun. The experience of understanding Organic Chemistry inspired me to pursue a Master's degree specifically...

...rural secondary school. I especially enjoyed teaching math because it was a language my students and I shared, and I believe they enjoyed it as well. Often times my students would come to me and ask for extra practice problems. My experience in rural Malawi taught me the importance of QUALITY education and that is...

...science, technology, engineering, and math. My time teaching high school also included one-on-one experience with students who have special education needs, and I have found that communication with parents is essential. It is my hope that I can continue to help others learn and introduce them to the exciting world of math and science.... Effective teaching is a difficult goal to achieve. When thinking of thinking, many people may think of classroom lectures, instructors doling out facts and figures, and students memorizing and regurgitating. However, I think that a more effective teaching strategy comes from an effort to help students develop new ways of thinking and new learning processes, while still capitalizing on methods that are familiar to them. In addition, teaching should not be exclusive to the domain of academics. Undergraduates and high school students, in particular, can benefit from learning life skills such as time management and critical thinking. Being a teacher requires a balance of professionalism and approachability, which can ultimately culminate in a positive experience for both the instructor and student. As a general chemistry laboratory instructor, my previous position required me to balance hands-on instruction with short lectures indicating background material. I have found that keeping the lectures short allowed students the opportunity to experience concepts first-hand, and helped them retain the information more effectively. Chemistry is a daunting subject for many students, and it is my goal to bring about their excitement by example. In addition to teaching them course material, I also mention real-world examples of chemistry in action, and give descriptions of my daily life as a research graduate student, when appropriate. This gave my students a firm grasp on what it means to do research in science, and what it means to discover something new and exciting. One of my main goals as a chemistry instructor is to teach students critical thinking skills. This is often a new experience for many students, as they are required to look at a single set of data from many different perspectives. "What could be causing this change? How could we make this experiment better?" These are the type of questions that I hope my students will eventually learn to ask on their own. I typically employ the method of answering their questions with another question in order to highlight important ideas or mistakes that a student may have made. This way, students are actually able to answer their own questions, which helps them become more confident in their abilities. I have found that this is much more effective than simply giving a direct answer because it assists the students in developing their critical thinking skills and helps them remember concepts more concretely since they came to the conclusion on their own. By slowly taking them through the process of critical thinking one step at a time, my aim is to help them learn chemical concepts as well as to develop analytical thinking skills. My goal is that they will eventually learn this questioning method and be able to employ it on their own. The critical thinking skills I teach in chemistry are directly applicable to everyday life. Most people consider it a purely academic endeavor, but it can be applied to a wide range of topics such as science, literature, music, and philosophy. I personally find it very important to help students realize that they can apply critical thinking and other skills to their personal life. Many undergraduate students are on their own for the first time, and are in the process of discovering and developing their personalities. At both St. Joseph High School and Florida International University, I had the opportunity to interact with a uniquely diverse student body representing a range of personalities. Their interests, beliefs, and behaviors can all be examined during the college years. Teachers often consider their jobs to be purely academic, but I think it is important to remember that some students are searching for new ideas and experiences. As a teacher, I want to nurture their search for new ideas so that they may develop as individuals both academically and personally. The desire to help students improve in two different ways requires a balance of professionalism and relatability. I approach this problem by being fun during class lectures but still imparting the course knowledge. I usually relate chemical concepts to everyday experiences or create a fictional short story to describe to students. This makes the students feel like I am approachable, but still knowledgeable. I believe that the stoic lectures of professors past need to be altered; a positive and fun learning atmosphere can be enjoyed regardless of the topic. Integration of innovative technological techniques is at the forefront of this revolution. To this end, I integrated interactive applications such as Classcraft and Kahoot, which encouraged student involvement. In an effort to improve my teaching abilities, I earned the Teaching Assistant Certification from FIU's Center for the Advancement of Teaching. Throughout my experience in this program, I have been able to identify some of my strengths and weaknesses as an instructor. I have been able to use this experience to incorporate daily quizzes into general chemistry laboratory curriculum as an effort to help students better prepare for labs. I also assisted in bringing new technology to the classroom by being one of the pilot instructors for the SPARK data acquisition system, which is now in full use in all of FIU's general chemistry laboratory sections. Current studies on teaching pedagogy are clear that simple lectures do not impart as much educational value as group work, writing exercises, and other interactive methods. It is important to remember that even teachers have to learn and that there is always potential for growth. While I have presented part of my teaching philosophy here, I am constantly in the process of examining and changing it. Every class has a unique set of individuals with challenges and talents. In order to teach, I must be flexible and willing to try new methods. My overall goal is to create a fun atmosphere where students' learning is a priority, and where they can feel comfortable asking questions. I want my students to develop critical thinking skills and to understand that they can apply to more than just scientific concepts. My goal is to help students learn chemistry while learning about themselves in the process.

...at UC San Diego studying Bioengineering with an emphasis on Control Systems and Mathematical Modeling. I have worked with graduate students, collegiate students, and school students. Tutoring is one of the most satisfying ways I spend my time. I value and enjoy building a rapport with each student so I can challenge him or her...

...WI, May of 2013. While a student, I studied Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Microbiology, Botany, Genetics, and many other courses of this type. I have also studied Anthropology and Art History a great deal. While in college, I interned as a Beloit Biomedical Research Scholar at the University of Loyola at their Sheridan campus. My...

...physics and chemistry. Test prep for ACT, SAT, GMAT and GRE are also included. I'm extremely patient and will always take the time to ensure students understand the concepts in a way that is clear to them. I'm available to meet anywhere my students would like, whether it be their home, coffee shop or local...

...chemistry, physics, and Spanish courses; I also taught health education workshop to Boston area high school students. When I am tutoring I feel it is important to both demonstrate problem-solving techniques and then guide students to the point where they can work out the solution and enjoy that moment of insight. I feel like these...

...the University of Notre Dame. There I majored in Classics and Pre-Professional Studies. Following my college career, I obtained a Masters degree in Biomedical Sciences from Midwestern University in Downers Grove. I have always been fascinated with biology and chemistry and how microscopic interactions lead to the world we see around us. I love learning...

...subjects such as various levels of math, science, history, English, Test-taking strategies, and writing. I strongly believe that each student has his unique way of learning and it is my responsibility as their tutor to figure it out and prepare my lessons to fit their needs. I am generally available to tutor in the evenings...

...Biochemistry. I have experience tutoring college students in both biology and even more so in chemistry, which is my favorite school subject. I think anyone can understand chemistry with the right explanations and effort. I am always eager to help someone understand concepts that are foreign to them because I love seeing them have an...