James
Certified Tutor
I'm a soon-to-be graduate of SUNY Geneseo's Chemistry Program, and previously a tutor for students at the college. Since finishing at Geneseo I have returned to Buffalo to begin my career in the chemistry field. I have an extreme passion for chem, and for science in general. My particular strengths lie in the hard sciences, though I am also perfectly apt to prepare you or your son/daughter for many forms of standardized testing, as well as mathematics and subject-tests. I believe that the educational experience works best if customized for each individual student, therefore I like to build lesson and study plans around the needs of each one. In my free time I am also a part-time waiter and bartender, and I can often be found on many of the local Disc Golf courses, or watching Shakespeare in the Park during the summers.
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Undergraduate Degree: SUNY Geneseo - Bachelors, Chemistry
- SAT Composite (1600 scale): 1480
- SAT Math: 740
- SAT Verbal: 740
Video Games, Disc Golf, Cooking, and the Oxford Comma
- AP Chemistry
- Chemistry
- College Chemistry
- College Physics
- High School Chemistry
- High School Physics
- Honors Chemistry
- Physics
- SAT Prep
- SAT Math
- SAT Mathematics
- SAT Reading
- SAT Subject Test in Chemistry
- SAT Subject Tests Prep
- Science
- Test Prep
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that passion is what really inspires learning. Science has always been the absolute coolest thing in my eyes, and I hope to instill that in all of my students.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
During the first session with a student I aim to get to know them personally, what they like and don't like, as well as beginning to discover what particular areas of the subject they're struggling with and why.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
By hopefully inspiring the same passion that drove me to seek out a degree in Chemistry. Also, by teaching helpful studying techniques that alleviate the boredom caused by rote memorization.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
I try to always have a positive outlook on life, and I bring that to my students through regular positive reinforcement and motivational pep talks.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
My strategy for complete understanding comes in two phases. First, I spend time with the student one-on-one discovering the nature of his/her problem with the material and teaching them the correct process. Second, I ensure that they recognize what they're doing through the use of practice problems.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
Confidence in the material is extremely important, and as such I aim to build up a student's confidence over time until they are 100% sure they can pass anything! I do this through the power of repetition, knowing that a small amount of time spent working each day can drastically increase both understanding and confidence.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I evaluate my students’ needs in the very first session, where I try to get to know them on a personal level, to ensure that I'm not just another teacher-figure in their lives. From there, we begin to build a trust and hopefully a friendship that will help me to craft a learning plan specifically for them.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
I try to keep the required materials light, but it will vary from subject to subject. Typically all that will be required is some paper, pencils, a calculator, and a collection of the student's homework and prior tests to help evaluate where any errors were made. I will typically bring along my laptop for any online needs we might have if in person.