Chemistry and Science Tutoring with Mike

Mike H.

I'm Michael! I spent over 20 years in education, starting as a high school chemistry teacher before moving into curriculum design and leadership roles, including several years as a district's Director of Curriculum and Professional Development. Along the way, I earned a B.S. in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Education from Western Michigan University Magna Cum Laude, a M.S. in Science Education from Michigan State University, and an Ed.S. in Leadership and Curriculum from Grand Valley State University. That combination of classroom teaching and district-level curriculum work has given me a pretty unique window into how students learn chemistry, and how to find ways to best connect students to chemistry content.

I specialize in high school and college chemistry, including IB Chemistry and introductory or general chemistry courses. My teaching style leans heavily on breaking big, intimidating topics into smaller pieces that actually make sense, and using metaphors and models to demonstrate complex ideas and topics. I taught chemistry in a traditional classroom setting to students from 14 to 18 years old, and later spent years training other teachers on how to teach science material. That experience taught me that most students aren't struggling because they're incapable, they're struggling because a concept was never explained in a way that matched how they think. I try to find that explanation, whatever form it takes for each individual student.

If you're looking for a tutor who's spent decades thinking about how to make chemistry click, I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out with any questions or to get a lesson on the calendar!