I currently attend Washington University in St. Louis, pursuing a degree in chemical engineering with a minor in computer science. I began tutoring in high school and have continued all the way through university. I know that for many students math and science are two of the hardest subjects to understand because they are so abstract. It is difficult to memorize a theorem or postulate when you have no idea what it means. This is why I try to avoid memorization as much as possible with my students. Instead, all of my sessions are focused around understanding. After you are able to understand a concept you don't need to memorize the rules because you already know them. I also believe that the tutor should remain silent as much as possible during the session. All students are capable of understanding the material if they are given enough time to think. If the tutor is constantly interrupting their train of thought then they aren't learning, they are only repeating information their tutor told them. True understanding comes from within, which is why I try to limit my input as much as possible. In my experience, this has been the most effective way for students to learn the STEM fields efficiently.