Kyle Kabasares Math And Physics Tutoring
About
I graduated from the University of California, Merced in May 2017 with highest honors with a Bachelors in Physics and a minor in Applied Mathematics, and am continuing my studies as a physics graduate student at the University of California, Irvine. Interestingly, I did not like math or physics until my junior year of high school, until I had two great math and physics teachers who showed me how beautiful both subjects really are. I truly believe that with the right mentor and the right attitude, anyone can learn math or physics. I privately tutored my peers and friends as a student at UCM and I look forward to being a teaching assistant in graduate school. I want to alleviate the fear many students have about both of these subjects, and realize that they are more than capable in excelling at each.
As an undergraduate at UC Merced, I was on the chancellor's list each of my four years, I worked as a physics lab assistant where I set up introductory physics experiments, and I also interned in the NASA Student Airborne Research Program (SARP), where I got to utilize my knowledge in applied math, physics and chemistry to study air pollution.
Highlights
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
First, I need to establish what the student does and does not know. This usually involves asking them what they have covered so far in their class and what their comfort level is with a certain topic. I will usually present questions from these topics to ensure that the student really is comfortable with them before we move on to the next topic. Once we establish where they are having difficulty, I like to work through examples with the students and use the examples to explain the underlying theory or derviation. In my experience, most students typically like doing examples first and having the theory or derivation as a reference. I usually try to have my students explain what is going on in their own words and help them as they go along, as it often helps reinforce their own knowedge of the material.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Bachelors degree in physics and a minor in applied mathematics from UC Merced. I would tutor/teach my peers and students in classes that I had previously taken or in classes that I was currently taking in order to help reinforce my own understanding of the material. I am also an incoming graduate student at the University of California, Irvine, where I will be a teaching assistant, and will be taking subsequent classes to strengthen my tutoring/teaching ability.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching in my freshmen year of college. Most of the time it would be my friends taking an introductory math or physics course that I had already taken and asked me for help or clarification on the subject. I noticed that many students have a negative attitude towards math and physics and I wanted to be able to show them that these subjects are not as bad as they think, and that they are more than capable of mastering each subject with enough discipline and practice.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with high school and college level students, mostly STEM students.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a tutor in your area of expertise?
My advice would be to find a tutor who is passionate about their subject and is a patient teacher. From experience, they ought to know that the learning process cannot be rushed, and a good tutor will make sure that their student is ready to take the next step when learning the material.
What questions should students think through before talking to tutors about their needs?
Is there anything I learned in class that was not clearly explained?
What kind of learner am I? Auditory, visual, etc.
Do I like being lectured to, or do I like a discussion based learning style?