PrepNow Tutor - Elle M.
A physics and mathematics scholar with great enthusiasm for education, Elle has been teaching since 2014. They hold a BS in physics and music performance from Occidental College as well as an MS in physics from Cal State Long Beach; currently they are a PhD student in physics at the University of Pittsburgh and are ABD. In the course of their graduate school career, Elle has taught several courses at the college level and was a high school tutor for mathematics and science. In addition to teaching, they are currently researching the history and foundations of mathematics and physics in order to publish a book on the topic.
Elle first started tutoring and teaching during their master's program. “My two favorite parts of tutoring are the excitement of a student grasping a difficult concept, and when a student asks me a question I've never thought of, prompting me to better my own knowledge,” Elle says. They have tutored high school students in pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus (1, 2, and 3), linear algebra, AP Physics, introductory chemistry, and SAT/ACT prep. As a college instructor, Elle has taught Introductory Mechanics, Intro to Electricity and Magnetism, physics for non-majors, and astronomy.
“I enjoy using the Socratic method when tutoring,” Elle says when asked to describe their tutoring style. “I find it helps motivate students to understand problems and concepts in their own terms. It also helps give me insight into how the student thinks about the subject, and whether any adjustments need to be made.” Elle also enjoys giving concrete examples and applications of the topics, tailoring the explanations to the student's goals.
During their studies, Elle was the recipient of numerous accolades, including the Myron P. Garfunkel Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching Award; and they placed first in the Graduate Physical & Mathematical Sciences 32nd Annual CSU Student Research Competition.
In high school, Elle was the school orchestra's lead violinist. “I pursued this as a Violin Performance major in undergrad, and continued playing in a professional orchestra during my master's program,” they share.
Elle enjoys puzzle games in non-euclidean worlds and 3D modeling. On occasion, they write stories and music and have been teaching themselves to draw this past year. “I have memorized over 200 digits of pi!”
