I graduated from Florida State University magna cum laude with degrees in Meteorology and Spanish. I also have a master's degree from Western Governor's University with additional graduate work in both environmental science and Spanish.
I began teaching middle school comprehensive science in Hillsborough County, Florida in 2012 and have been teaching high school science, primarily physics and astronomy, with the recent additions of AP Physics 1 and AP Physics C: Mechanics. In addition to...
I graduated from Florida State University magna cum laude with degrees in Meteorology and Spanish. I also have a master's degree from Western Governor's University with additional graduate work in both environmental science and Spanish.
I began teaching middle school comprehensive science in Hillsborough County, Florida in 2012 and have been teaching high school science, primarily physics and astronomy, with the recent additions of AP Physics 1 and AP Physics C: Mechanics. In addition to those classes, I have also taught chemistry, environmental science, earth and space science, and a physical science class in Spanish. I also offer after-school tutoring for physics students once per week. This year will be my 11th year teaching.
Physics is a different kind of ballgame because it requires a solid mastery of math in addition to a conceptual understanding of physics. I find that providing opportunities which allow students to make connections between what they see in labs, demonstrations, or the world around them, to what they see in the equations makes both components easier to understand.
When tutoring, I first ask students to provide a problem that they are having trouble with and describe how they would go about solving it. I can then use their response to diagnose the issue. This allows me to determine if the student is confused about the concept, the required math, or something else. If the confusion is conceptual, I will generally go back to the notes or text provided by the primary teacher and assist the student in identifying key points. I then generally work through a similar problem, explaining the purpose of each step and providing other relevant advice. Then I guide the student through another problem or two that will allow them to successfully approach their assignment.
Physics was not something that came easily to me, but I know that with proper guidance and help with the tough concepts and skills, any student can master Physics or any other science.
