Chemistry Tutoring
By A Chemist

Chemistry is hard. No doubt about it! 
It involves concepts that can be a bit abstract and intangible, at times, and couples it with being able to use algebra to solve problems. With the limited time teachers and professors have in the classroom, some students need more individualized attention to build a strong chemistry foundation and beyond. Whether for a better grade, AP Capstone™ or International Baccalaureate® diploma, or to pass an AP exam to receive college credit, the stakes can be high, but the challenges are not insurmountable — with the right help.

Chemistry Requires a Proper Foundation

Like other sciences, chemistry builds quickly on one concept after another from day one in the classroom – not unlike a house being built from the ground up! If that strong foundation is not constructed, the resulting first floor will not be sound, and so on and so on with subsequent levels.

Elemental Tutoring, LLC, was founded after I saw a need in our community for professional chemistry tutoring. Unlike subjects like math, where students can seek help from any number of franchised resources in a group setting, chemistry is a specialty subject. Chemistry involves writing and balancing equations for chemical reactions, solving problems using chemical principles and laws, accounting for proper units, comprehending lab results, and much, much more. As such, chemistry is a subject best taught by one that has both mastered and practiced chemistry, and this is what differentiates my services from other options. 

With a B.S. in Honors Chemistry and Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, and over 30 years’ experience in academic, industrial and government settings, I have the hands-on experience to best explain chemistry and even draw on real-world examples. Even more importantly, I know the frustrations associated with learning chemistry and am well-positioned to provide students with strategies I have learned effective towards understanding chemistry and performing to full potential on quizzes, tests and exams. I know the pitfalls and rabbit holes, and I know how to teach a student how to recognize and avoid them!

The Approach

Chemistry Tutoring by a Chemist uses a unique multi-faceted approach towards tutoring chemistry. A cornerstone to my approach is to challenge the student throughout the session.

Student-Driven

Encourage students to make a first attempt to solve a problem and then proceed to providing clues, rather than outright answers, if the student is unable to make that first attempt.

Critical Thinking

The student is often asked “Does your answer make sense?” to teach the student to observe if an answer has correct units for example, and if not, to go back and find the error.

Analytical

Students learn to develop those analytical problem-solving skills so important for chemistry and other sciences and this, in turn, leads to developing self-confidence!

A Partnership

I'm dedicated to making each student as successful as possible in chemistry. As such, a three-way partnership is formed between the student, parents and me towards that success.

The Experience

Chemistry Tutoring by a Chemist goes way beyond typical tutoring and employs a holistic methodology to chemistry education. Each session begins with a review of the last session. Any questions are answered and then goals are established for the current session. Sessions are a completely two-way, interactive experience where the student is fully engaged. There are various checkpoints during the session to ensure the student is fully understanding concepts and problems, and, as a failsafe, the student is often challenged to explain concepts or problems back to me from scratch. Sessions that are dedicated to exam preparation are particularly immersive and the student is given variations on study guide problems to best prepare them for the actual exam where actual questions can deviate from those on the study guide. Proven test-taking strategies are also shared.

Chemistry Tutoring by a Chemist is dedicated to helping a student be as successful as possible in chemistry. As such, a three-way partnership is formed between the student, parents and me towards that success. My contribution is a customized tutoring plan for each and every student based on current performance, expectations, personality and more. The student brings honesty and communication to the table, and, if a concept is not understood, I will endeavor to explain in different ways until it is. Finally, parents are frequently updated on progress, and input may be solicited from their end. All of this works to the end goal of the student’s success. After all, this is all about them!
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Grace L.

Chatfield High School
“Joel took my grade from a C to a B in the span of only a couple of months. He was really great at explaining difficult concepts and being patient when I didn't understand. His method of letting the student lead the lesson was really helpful and made the session overall more productive.”

Coral B.

Front Range Christian School
“Joel Pankow is able to break down the topics I struggle with and teach it to me in sections I can understand. He gives me very helpful tricks and pointers to use on my homework and tests. He is also very flexible and gracious with lessons and able to help me out whenever I need.”

Robin Maginess

Mother
“Joel was just what we needed! His style of teaching Honors Chemistry clicked right away with my son. With Joel’s help my son was able to grasp the concepts more efficiently and succeed in the class. What a lifesaver!”

Sara L.

Chatfield High School
“I was not confident in my chemistry honors class until I had my first few study sessions. I learned a great deal and my grades definitely reflect that today!”

About Joel W. Pankow, Ph.D.

I owe my passion for chemistry to my high school chemistry teacher — Mr. Dale Nelson at Independence High School in San Jose, California. Late in the second semester when we were hard at work on designing methods during our lab sessions to detect and remove certain elements (qualitative analysis), but also eager for summer break in sunny California, Mr. Nelson was fond of saying “It’s about this time of year that I have to tell my students to get the lead out!” I decided to pursue a B.S. in Honors Chemistry at San Jose State University where I discovered my passion for analytical chemistry — a major branch of chemistry that focuses on both qualitative and quantitative analysis of materials often using complex instrumentation. Analytical chemists are often called problem solvers in the chemistry world. I subsequently obtained my Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Arizona where I taught many undergraduate laboratory classes at freshman level and beyond. I then worked both in industry and government settings before I ultimately founded my business where I can now share my passion for chemistry with our rising generation — just like Mr. Nelson did for me.
Contact ME

What Next?

If you think your student could benefit from Chemistry Tutoring from a Chemist, let’s set up a complimentary and no obligation meet and greet. That’s our first step towards building and maintaining a strong foundation in chemistry and beyond! I am confident your student will soon see chemistry can be understood and can even be fun!

Sessions are all done via Zoom. I use a state-of-the-art graphics tablet where whatever I write on the tablet, is instantly displayed on the Zoom shared-whiteboard screen. I have the ability to save the whiteboards as PDF files to send to the student after sessions. I am also able to screen share various resources as necessary and also annotate them live using the graphics tablet tools.

Contact Me

Joel W. Pankow, Ph.D.
Littleton, Colorado
joel@elementaltutoring.com

720-757-0729

It won’t be long before you'll discover the next element of the periodic table – Element 119, Aha, the element of understanding!
Copyright 2022 by Joel W. Pankow
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