I went to college at Rowan University where I studied Chemistry and Metalworking. Before that I was an honor student at Williamstown High School with such classes as honors Art, Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, History.
My post-collegiate academic pursuits include designing and acquiring a patent, reading a lot of books, and studying for the permaculture landscape design certification.
I have tutored professionally for over 14 years while going to school and working in my fields of study. While tutoring I have run my own custom jewelry business, worked as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry, practiced Wing Chun, repaired and upgraded my fixer-upper house, and helped raise my 3 children (they still have some raising to do). I currently home-school my three children and tutor.
I really enjoy tutoring and mentoring. I feel that a great teacher's knowledge of their subject deepens while their students learning is accelerated at a far greater pace in a mentoring environment than in a classroom, making tutoring, in my opinion, the greatest vehicle for honing one's skills while building up the proficiency and potential of another. It is inspirational to be a part of and witness a student's advancement in a subject that they had struggled with previously. It is rewarding in a very holistic way
My teaching style is conversational and interdisciplinary.
-Conversational, because it is a tutoring session, a one on one teaching session, and it should feel like a discussion, not a classroom with one student listening (why pay for an extra class at home when you can get a mentor at home).
-Interdisciplinary, because understanding and problem solving of a real life, complex issue is best accomplished by a person with a broad knowledge base. Broadening that knowledge base brings about a greater understanding of the initial subject while creating a bridge of understanding between that subject and another. This creates a synergistic growth of competency in multiple subjects, while allowing for explosive growth in the primary subject.
A large part of being a success as a mentor is learning why my assistance is needed in the first place. There are many different reasons why a student may need tutoring. It may have little to do with the aptitude and current potential of the student and more to do with knowledge gaps in their academic background, study skills, or how much a students likes or dislikes a subject.
The tutoring sessions are designed so that my students are always gaining proficiency and building confidence in their subjects and themselves. At the same time we will be exploring their options and then implementing a strategy that will enable them to be a success in the classroom as well as outside the classroom.
Sessions are also offered for general enrichment, accelerated programs for advanced students, research assistance, consultations, and any of the subjects listed in my profile.
Ideally my desire and goal for my students is that they will get to a point where long term tutoring will no longer be used to simply pass a class but it will be utilized to excel beyond it.
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