I am a credentialed chemistry teacher working as a chemistry teacher. I believe literacy across content areas is the key to success for any student. As a scientist and chemistry teacher, my goal is to help students understand how important science is in their everyday lives and how science literacy empowers them to become more capable twenty-first century citizens.
I am a fine scientist with an experience of 20 years in biotechnology research. My job at Diadexus and Schering Plough asked constant update of my knowledge and application of scientific concepts in experiments that involved drug discovery and diagnostic tests. My work required me to work with a team of dedicated professionals and publish our findings to communicate and explain the discovery of diagnostic tests, which are currently used in hospitals to diagnose fertility, cancer, and allergies. While at Diadexus, I had the opportunity to train a group of high school interns to run experiments in my lab. Training these young interns inspired me to become a science teacher; I discovered a new kind of work satisfaction when my interns told me, “You are a good teacher! We learned so much from working with you…” Feeding my interns’ desire to learn science felt more rewarding than my experimental results, and I am proud to say that one of my interns chose to study biology at the University of Southern California.
My volunteer work at Jefferson HS, student teaching at Lowell HS, teaching at Grant HS made me aware of the importance of science literacy. Although most of my students were proficient in English, they still had difficulty understanding science texts. Science has a complex vocabulary that is difficult even for native English speakers; talking and writing about science means doing science through keen observations, written descriptions, data analyses and evaluations. For me, science literacy means using key vocabulary to explain complex concepts and, most important of all, developing the ability to think scientifically. I think the specialized language of the science textbooks, fast-paced classes, and a lack of support for students after class makes science classes intimidating to students. I noticed that most of my students find difficult to read science texts in order to define scientific concepts. I want to help my students to learn how to study science and how to apply the concepts they learn in exercises. I am a teacher that motivates students to discover their strengths and talents; I also want to transfer my passion for science to my students so that they, too, become science professionals in the future. I can be a role model for all my students, particularly ELL students, who can develop confidence and have academic success through science literacy.
I heard many times students saying that science is “hard.” Being organized could help them to make it easier. I usually communicate to students what is expected to be learned, emphasize what is important, and how to learn the concepts. In the same time, I will ask my students to be organized and self-disciplined in their study.
It is my goal to combine my range of experience with my ability to be a compassionate and enthusiastic tutor who will help you succeed in chemistry.
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