Joseph Wick

Biography

My teaching career began right out of high school, when I worked as an instructor at the Long Beach Marine Institute’s summer camp. Having attended the camp when I was younger, and spent summers as a volunteer during high school, I was excited to pass on the knowledge that I had learned about sharks, seals, and other ocean life.

I then relocated from southern California to the Bay Area to study physics at UC Santa Cruz. During my undergraduate years, I continued working at summer camps and taught game design and introductory computer science to middle schoolers. After completing my bachelor’s, I stayed at UCSC to earn a master’s in Scientific Computing & Applied Math, during which I was a TA for introductory physics and computer science courses. As a TA, I enjoyed helping students to develop foundational science and math skills that will serve them for years to come.

Teaching across different levels – from middle school to collegiate – has taught me just how effective and rewarding quality one-on-one instruction can be. I think that the most effective way to tutor math and the sciences is to find the right balance of challenge and guidance for each student; allowing them to draw their own conclusions and build confidence with the material. I have seen first hand how helping students to not only master their coursework but also build study skills gives them the tools to meet future goals. Having taught for a variety of subjects, and with students at different levels, I believe in the importance of a student’s input in their learning and that developing mathematical and scientific thinking is useful beyond the classroom.

Outside of tutoring, I enjoy running, watching and playing soccer, and playing board games.