Brendan S.
Private tutor in Tallahassee, FL
Education
I grew up in Wisconsin and completed my undergraduate degree at UW Madison where I obtained my BS in Botany in 2013. I moved to the Tallahassee area in the fall of 2015, where I am pursuing a PhD in ecology and evolution at FSU. At FSU, I have served as a teaching assistant for several courses, including Field Botany, Plant Biology Laboratory, and Plants and Society. My research is in the fields of phylogenetics and botany, where I am planning on studying the red mangrove family.
Experience
I have experience tutoring in several positions over the years. I primarily tutor college entrance test prep (ACT, SAT, GRE), high school math, and high school science. However, I am also comfortable tutoring writing, English, and Spanish. I enjoy tutoring, because I love being able to share my knowledge with others. I understand the frustration of not understanding academic concepts, and I think the world as a whole improves as peoples' education improves. See below for my test scores and tutoring experience. Test Scores ACT Composite: 32 GRE Scaled Scores: Verbal Reasoning: 164 Quantitative Reasoning: 158 Analytical Writing: 4.5 AP Calculus AB: 5 AP Physics 1: 4 AP English Literature and Composition: 3 Tutoring and Teaching Experience Teaching Assistant Florida State University August 2015 – December 2015 Field Botany As a TA for FSU's Field Botany Course, I was responsible for preparing lab sessions, assisting students with plant identification, grading tests and assignments, and delivering lectures when the professor for the course was indisposed. Through this position I greatly increased my familiarity with plant identification and taxonomy. December 2015 - May 2016 Plants and Society I worked with my advisor Dr. Austin Mast, to develop a new “Plants and Society” course. I assisted in selection of topics for the course as well as finding relevant supplemental material. Furthermore, I wrote test questions and covered for Dr. Mast when he was indisposed. Additionally, I was responsible for all grading. May 2016 - August 2016 Plant Biology Laboratory As a teaching assistant for this course, I was responsible for a wide range of activities. I refined and delivered all lectures, directed students in laboratory activities, graded all quizzes and assignments, and am currently working on redeveloping the lab manual for this course. Test Writer, Online Tutor Varsity Tutors March 2015-Present In this position, I write practice tests in a wide variety of subjects for students who are struggling in their coursework. I write tests primarily in the following subjects: calculus, pre-calculus, algebra, geometry, biology, chemistry, ACT science, and GRE quantitative reasoning. Tutor Raise the Grade Tutoring September 2014 – June 2015 I assisted high school students with their schoolwork, primarily in math and science, but also in Spanish and ACT prep. I worked with my students to help them understand their schoolwork and become more proficient with subjects that they were struggling with. Tutor Huntington Learning Center November 2013 – June 2015 I tutored high school students preparing to take the ACT and SAT, as well as college students preparing to take the GRE. I also worked as a subject tutor in math, biology and physics. Additionally, I tutored students in grade school through high school in reading, writing, phonics and math. I was responsible for understanding and presenting prepared materials in order to help students achieve their academic goals.
Subject Expertise
AP BiologyEnglishElementary MathElementary AlgebraEcologyEarth ScienceCollege EssaysChemistryCalculus 1BiologyAP Physics 1AP Calculus ABEvolution9th Grade Writing9th Grade Reading9th Grade math9th Grade8th Grade Writing8th Grade Science8th Grade Reading8th Grade math8th Grade7th Grade WritingPhysical ScienceWritingSpanish 3Spanish 2Spanish 1SAT MathematicsSAT Critical ReadingSATReadingProbabilityPre-CalculusPre-Algebra7th Grade ScienceMiddle School MathMiddle SchoolKindergarten - 8th GradeIntermediate AlgebraGuitarGREGeometryGeneral ChemistryGeneral BiologyEvolutionary Biology12th Grade2nd Grade Writing2nd Grade Reading2nd Grade math2nd Grade1st Grade Writing1st Grade Reading1st Grade math1st Grade12th Grade Writing12th Grade Reading12th Grade math3rd Grade11th Grade Writing11th Grade Reading11th Grade math11th Grade10th Grade Writing10th Grade Reading10th Grade math10th GradeACTArithmetic5th Grade math7th Grade Reading7th Grade math7th Grade6th Grade Writing6th Grade Science6th Grade Reading6th Grade math6th Grade5th Grade Writing5th Grade Science5th Grade ReadingSocial Studies5th Grade4th Grade Writing4th Grade Science4th Grade Reading4th Grade math4th Grade3rd Grade Writing3rd Grade Science3rd Grade Reading3rd Grade math
Availability
Tuesday after 5PM, Monday at any time, Thursday after 7PM
Can Meet
Up to 30 minutes away for no additional charge
Hobbies
I enjoy a number of activities, many of which are tied to my immense interest in nature. I enjoy gardening, hiking, biking, sailing, kayaking, and just generally being outside. I am also an avid reader, and enjoy both non fiction and fiction. I'm a huge fan of fantasy such as the Lord of the Rings or A Song of Ice and Fire novels, as well as more academic works about anything from anthropology to astronomy. I love watching science and nature videos, and will often work in interesting facts or concepts from my scientific background into my tutoring. I emphasize both content and study skills while tutoring my students, so that eventually they become confident and capable enough to excel independently.
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