Harvard Chemistry & Biology instructor with 12+ years experience

Flora S.

I am an experienced educator in Chemistry & Biology, and have taught students of all ages from ranging high schoolers to adult learners. From 2016-2022, I was an instructor for introductory Chemistry & Biology courses at Harvard University where I taught small group sections and labs of up to 18 students at a time. Since 2018 I have also had a private tutoring practice where I work with 1-2 students at a time. In these one-on-one sessions I am able to tailor my approach to the student at hand, and keep them engaged and learning throughout the entire lesson.

Science can be intimidating for students of all ages, making it difficult for students to connect with the material. My first goal is to make the material feel safe and approachable, and I offer a warm, patient, and humorous teaching style which creates a sense of comfort and familiarity with my students.

When we get to work, I break down concepts to their most fundamental level and can find multiple ways of explaining the same idea until I find the one that connects with the student I'm working with. I offer visual illustrations and write down notes as we go along which I offer to my student at the end of each session.

A typical session involves sample problems from the student's coursework as a launching point. I will then break down the concepts contained within that problem and address them individually, before building back up to the problem at hand. Once the concepts have been explained and understood, I will have the student attempt to solve a similar problem while I offer assistance as needed. In this way, the student builds the skills and confidence to approach problems on their own.