David: Edmonton tutor
Certified Tutor
I'm an experienced tutor available for math, physics and general science at all levels (grammar school to college). I have a BS in Physics from Brooklyn College where I minored in mathematics and received a 3.6 GPA. I first worked as a tutor there for other undergrads in physics and calculus at the behest of the physics department. I quickly came to realize I found tutoring very rewarding and continued to tutor after graduation at the Harlem Children's Zone. There I worked on SAT prep for high school students preparing to apply to colleges. I've also been tutoring math to a grammar school student on an ongoing basis (2 years).
I try to listen carefully to a student to determine what gives them difficulty or anxiety. I find it most important to instill confidence in the student through methodical study of the subject matter and verbal encouragement. A lack of confidence at test time can be devastating. I watch a student solve problems and take note of how they deal with being stuck. This is crucial in physics and math because at some point everyone "hits a wall" so to speak. I find the solution to this is having the student work through lots of problems with careful prompting to get them used to thinking on their feet.
I'm also a musician who enjoys hiking, camping and spending time with my wife and daughters. While physics is my favorite topic, I really enjoy tutoring in math as well. My subjects include (but are not limited to): algebra, trigonometry, geometry, pre-calculus, calculus, vector calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, general physics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, chemistry, SAT, etc. Willing to travel in NYC area by subway.
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Undergraduate Degree: CUNY Brooklyn College - Bachelors, Physics
Family time, Guitar, Hiking
- Algebra
- Algebra 2
- Algebra 3/4
- AP Physics 1
- AP Physics 2
- Arithmetic
- Calculus
- Calculus 2
- College Algebra
- College Physics
- Elementary Math
- Elementary School Math
- Geometry
- High School Chemistry
- High School Physics
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Science
- Physical Science
- Physics
- Pre-Algebra
- Pre-Calculus
- SAT Prep
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Reading
- SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 1
- SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 2
- SAT Subject Test in Physics
- SAT Subject Tests Prep
- Science
- Test Prep
- Trigonometry
What is your teaching philosophy?
I find it most important to carefully listen to the student's concerns. This is the best way to address the weak spots and insecurities in their knowledge of a subject.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I'll try to find out what the student struggles with or has anxiety about. Then, I try to assess the general aptitude in the topic by observing their problem solving skills.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I like to guide the student through problems with prompts that don't give away too much. I stress that at crunch time, no one can take a test for them. Getting a student to arrive at realizations themselves is the most rewarding.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I think the best way to keep a student motivated is to show them their own progress. When a student realizes that they're improving in a difficult subject it creates positive feedback that keeps them engaged.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
At this point I usually slow things down. I will often ask the student to explain the concept to me to determine where there are gaps in understanding. Often, just approaching the topic a different way through an analogy or working through another example will be successful.