Chemistry with Nathan J.

Many chemical concepts can be taught using common household chemicals with basic safety precautions. Vinegar and baking soda can teach the gas laws, buffers, and even thermodynamics. As a high school chemistry teacher, many of the challenges I see arise from students with incomplete backgrounds in reading and math. For the urgent need I can teach calculator fluency to decouple chemistry performance from weak math skills, but for students with more time I have to rebuild mathematical foundations and reduce the amount of memorization required. Speaking of memorization, I use spaced repetition where students practice quizzes and flashcards over time so that the information can be retained longer. In order to improve comprehension of complex scientific material, I have a number of assessments that will help me select the right strategy for improving scientific literacy. I believe the best outcomes from a tutoring arrangement come when students practice outside of sessions provided that they are not allowed to practice incorrect procedures excessively. so I will use data to determine what is appropriate practice.