I have tutored math and science privately in East Lansing for the last 2 years while a TA for introductory astronomy at Michigan State. Before that, I tutored math and science for 4 years at a SAT tutoring company in Los Angeles while an undergraduate at the California Institute of Technology. I first try to assess where students are having difficulties and try to explain some of the underlying misconceptions he or she have regarding the topic. After practice with some example problems, I have the student attempt the problem on their own, guiding their focus through the steps that he or she should take to arrive at the answer. Finally, I try to have the student understand what the answer means in relation to the problem, why the correct answer is reasonable and an incorrect one unreasonable. I avoid, at all costs, just giving students the answer to a problem. Learning the concepts around solving math and science problems, instead of just the execution of a single problem, is a much more enlightening process (resulting in better grades!)
