I have a PhD in Chemistry from UC Berkeley under the tutelage of Nobel Laureate Glenn Seaborg. I also have a BS in Chemistry from Cal State Hayward and a BS in Physical Science from Cal State Hayward.... I also completed the Teacher Ed program at Cal State Hayward and was awarded a Single Subject Teaching Credential. I worked for both Mobil Chemical and PQ Corporation as a research chemist for 13 years. I then switched career paths and worked at both Immunomedics and Rhodes Pharmaceuticals as a tech writer for another eight years. I then came full circle and taught at several learning academies such as ThinkTank Learning. My method is to make sure the student has a firm grounding in basic mathematics and is able to enjoy learning prealgebra, not just approach it in a mechanical way. Applications to real life often will motivate students to learn the basics and advance their mathematical skills. read more

Hello, my name is Ron Shinomoto. I was raised under challenging circumstances in the heart of East Oakland in an area known as the Flatlands. This area was notorious for having a high crime rate where... drug dealing activity was commonplace and gangs once ruled the 'hood. Despite this difficult upbringing, I was able to obtain a PhD in chemistry from UC Berkeley under the tutelage of the late Nobel Laureate Glenn T. Seaborg, who himself experienced dire poverty and grew up in the notorious Watts section of LA. I myself originally wanted to become a high school math and science teacher following in the steps of my older brother whom I admired since I was a little boy. However, after successfully completing the Teacher Ed program at Cal State Hayward, which had one of the finest Teacher Ed programs in California, I decided not to teach as a profession because I could not control my classes and instead went back to school to complete my studies in chemistry. After graduating with a BS in chemistry with highest honors and receiving the Merck Award for outstanding chemistry graduate, I worked for a couple of years as a radiochemist before enrolling in graduate school at UC Berkeley and completing my graduate program with a PhD in chemistry as I mentioned before. After several postdoctoral stints at both USC and Miami of Ohio, I was hired as a research chemist by Mobil Chemical Company in Edison, New Jersey. After marrying in 1994, I moved to the Philadelphia suburb of Schwenksville and worked as a senior research chemist at PQ Corporation, the longest continuously operated chemical company in America behind DuPont. I then switched career paths and became a tech writer for several biotech and pharmaceutical companies. After moving to the SF Bay Area, I decided to switch career paths once again and starting teaching chemistry in several colleges as well as tutoring in chemistry, math, writing, and physical science. I have over ten years experience teaching and tutoring.read more