Our Tutors In Tennessee

John J

Teaching Style

I am convinced, partly because of my own experiences, that the current educational system best serves the needs of the average student. I also believe that it seldom addresses the needs of those students whose learning style is not a good fit with the one size fits all educational system. This may be for a wide variety of reasons, but the result is that the student is left without the needed skill set to compete and what’s worse, left with the message that they are responsible for "not getting it" and are inferior or stupid in some respect. I nearly flunked junior high pre-algebra, and was a mediocre math student in high school. I eventually managed to teach myself, and have subsequently scored 800 on the math section of the GRE and was one of about 50/15000 to score a perfect 15 on the quantitative section of the medical college admission test (MCAT). What is wrong with this picture? My own take is that we all have different styles of optimal learning, and what’s more, are often hindered by simple roadblocks that only 1:1 teaching can identify and redress. I am very passionate about finding the approach that clicks, and building back the esteem that comes with mastery of the subject material.

Experience Summary

Prior to entering graduate and later medical school, I tutored a variety of subjects in the area of mathematics and science. As a PhD candidate, one of the requirements was to assist in teaching the physiology labs, and as an advanced candidate, was given the opportunity to give lectures in physiology to medical and nursing students. Most recently I have been an unpaid volunteer on the on-line physics forum where advanced high school and college students can go on line for assistance with their homework. Because of my career selection, I have had to take many standardized examinations and am quite adept at these. I believe I can help other aspiring students achieve the higher scores needed for acceptance in programs of their choice.

Joanne J

Teaching Style

My teaching style is student centered and hands-on. I try to get students to recreate what scientists really do in the lab to discover and find solutions to problems, so a lot of time is spent in the lab and collaborating. I also incorporate data analysis in the lab experiences, so a lot of my labs require that students collect and share data, and base their conclusions to a problem on the data, and not a book answer. I think this is the reason why I had so many science fair winners at the middle school level. Often my parents where I amazed at what I could get their kids to create in terms of lab reports.

Experience Summary

I have been teaching for about 14 years. I discovered teaching while I was doing volunteer work bringing science to elementary school children in the inner cities of Philadelphia. I was hooked. I had so much fun and the fact that I could get paid for it was secondary but a bonus. I started out as a middle school teacher and I have been quite successful with them at science fair competitions. One year, 6 of my sixth graders took 6 of the 7 places in city fair. My eighth graders won first place 2 years in a row. One student went on to state competition (he won 2nd place in a category higher than his grade level), and another was awarded and honored at a Spectroscopy Society dinner. I am presently teaching high school Chemistry and General Science, and I love what I do.

Joon J

Teaching Style

I am a huge proponent of the dialectic and Socratic methods of teaching, while recognizing the need for the didactic to learn the basic methods of academics. My own experience, as well as my background in Psychology, helps me recognize that learning must be relevant, interesting, and conducted in a highly accepting and supportive environment. I am keenly aware of the sense of inadequacy of students who come to tutoring services (I have been one myself in the past) and make special care to make all my students feel that improvement is possible for anyone. The knowledge and strategies that high performers utilize are not exclusive; anyone can learn with patience and the right tutor!

Experience Summary

I am a current teacher for the Princeton Review for the SAT (soon also for the GRE and GMAT), as well as a former tutor for Huntington Learning Center (SAT). A score of 1400 on the SAT allows me the credibility to teach, while a self-awareness allows me to understand the mechanisms and strategies that have allowed me this success. As a recipient of two bachelor degrees, in Biochemistry and Psychology, I am uniquely positioned to help students on a variety of subjects. My curriculum included Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Math, and a litany of Psychology courses, including the Psychology of Learning.

Subi S

Teaching Style

I love children and enjoy teaching, as I am a trained teacher. I know how to handle the children according to their age. I think a teacher should be a friend, a philosopher and a guide to the students.

Experience Summary

I have earned a master's degree in physics and bachelor's degree in education. I understand the methodology of teaching. I have two years of work experience in teaching. First I started my career by teaching physics in a vocational secondary school for one year. Then I worked in a high school teaching upper level math & science classes.

Donald D

Teaching Style

I believe children today are shortchanged by our educational system. Kids need people who hold them to high standards rather than minimums. They need to feel like people believe they are worthy of success and able to attain it rather than being given built-in excuses. Therefore, my teaching style is to hold students to a high level of proficiency. I work with students in a way that builds their confidence and makes them feel like they know things others don't. There is a real "edge" that they feel when they think they might actually be "one of the smart ones" after all and it breeds both an interest and an ambition to be better.

Experience Summary

I have Accounting, Finance, and Economics degrees or designations of emphasis as part of my educational resume. Earning those degrees takes quite a bit of mathematical and analytical knowledge and skill. I went into these degree areas because they not only met one of many areas of interest to me but I also perceived they were perhaps more useful. However, I have a great interest and an immersion based education in history, civics, and political science based areas. I've also been asked to be a contributing writer for both a political blog and a sports related blog which has allowed me to hone my writing and grammatical skills.

Herbert H

Teaching Style

The teaching style I use is completely dependent on the particular student being taught. I'm a big fan of the adage 'Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for the rest of his life'. My objective is to teach a child not only the material, but how they best learn so that they can teach themselves. I enjoy using applicable references that are relevant to the child so that they will more easily grasp the concepts. I believe a personalized approach works best.

Experience Summary

I have earned a bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering with a software focus along with a Sales Engineering minor. I was 3 credit hours away from both my Math and Business minors. In the last 5 years, I have tutored students in Basic Math, Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Calculus, Visual Basic, Physics, and Differential Equations. I have taught math for the past 4 years at the Professional Academies Magnet at Loften High School in the subjects of Algebra I, Algebra I Honors, Geometry, Geometry Honors, Algebra II, Algebra II Honors, Statistics, Mathematics for College Readiness, and Liberal Arts Math.

Justin J

Teaching Style

I am a very enthusiastic tutor and, as I stated in the previous section, believe teaching in such a way that the student gains a true mastery of the given subject. In a sense, I believe in each student understanding a particular concept in their own unique way that is consistent with their unique thinking processes. I strive to do this by relating a given concept analogously to something the student already fundamentally understands. I also create new problems to solve that probe the students’ progress and comprehension. I try to make these problems as realistic as possible to make them interesting to the student.

Experience Summary

Being a Ph.D. candidate and appointed research assistant, I very much realize the importance of true comprehension of a subject. Not only do I hold two B.S. degrees in Applied Mathematics and Chemical Engineering but I also carry credits to the equivalent of a Non-Thesis Masters in Applied Mathematics and am one course shy of a minor in Chemistry. I have tutored groups of students for Sylvan Learning Centers, conducted one-on-one sessions with Educational Enrichment and independently, and prepared and delivered lectures for advanced undergraduate chemical engineering courses. I am capable and experienced in tutoring all levels of mathematics, chemistry, chemical engineering, physics and materials science.

Dawn D

Teaching Style

I have a visual and hands on teaching style. I do believe that students learn better by doing labs and seeing demonstrations, not by just hearing lectures. My students thoroughly enjoy my demonstrations and labs. My goal is to do whatever it takes to ensure that my students are working to their maximum potential.

Experience Summary

I have 5 years experience as a Biology, Chemistry, and now, a Physical Science teacher on the high school and middle school levels. I have gained a valuable understanding about the needs of our young people. I believe that all students are capable of learning anything, some just have different learning styles. I have met with different students and tried (quite successfully) to gear my lessons to the needs of all students. In my classes, it is my goal to make sure that every student understands the lessons.