Having completed a B.S in biology from Lindenwood University and a B.S. and M.S in Geology from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, I have a strong background in the sciences. As a graduate teaching assistant and as an education intern, I have had teaching experience in formal and informal settings with elementary to college age students.
My broad scientific background allows me to teach subjects from different perspectives if a student has difficulty understanding information based on the manner it is presented. My preferred subjects to teach are biology (general and ecology) and geological/ earth sciences. These subjects are often far reaching and intertwine with other areas bringing a large amount of the sciences into a cohesive whole.
My teaching style varies according to the students needs. If I am presenting a new subject, I provide a base amount of knowledge and see how that sinks in. Then I will ask questions which will test understanding and will lead students to the implications of the subject. If a student comes to me with difficulties understanding a topic, I will ascertain the students understanding of the topic, correct misinterpretations, and fill in gaps in his or her knowledge. In both cases, I will often draw graphs or diagrams, building them with the lecture. This provides the student with a visual representation of the topic and a step by step walkthrough. A difficulty in the sciences is often dealing with definitions. One of the most successful ways I have of dealing with this is to break the words down into their roots, explain where the roots com from, and how the prefixes and suffixes alter the meaning.
My personal hobbies include reading and video games.
