Optimal thought and optimal fitness through reason, logic, science, passion, and wisdom.
Gold Academy: Private and Corporate Training
Science

Science

Science tutoring is available for IPC, physics, chemistry, and biology, for all students from children through adults. We use the books and materials followed by your teacher and school. Some science courses I offer are described below.

Contact Michael today: by email at MichaelGold@GoldAMS.com or by phone at 281-770-2276.

“My daughter truly enjoyed the class and has motivated her further study in science. She also appreciated Mr. Gold’s passion and excitement for science!” –Chigusa, parent, about the Outschool class “Logic Corner: What Is Science?,” 12 Feb 2020

Contact us to hold private classes or homeschool classes — in private, for a group, for a company — for the following topics:

Physics

Course description: we will cover physics from an inductive, historical perspective, taking two years to cover the subject.

It is important for students to learn how and why scientists developed the ideas and theories they did; today, most science is taught as coming out of nowhere and being true just because the teacher or book says so — not at all how any science should be taught.

Science should be taught as science has been done: starting with the evidence of the senses, and developing concepts, propositions, principles, explanations, and theories step by step from there. We should follow the actual method of the scientists of the ages, something studied most successfully and most recently by the philospher-physicist David Harriman of Falling Apple Science.

We will cover Aristotle, Euclid, Ptolemy, Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, Fahrenheit, Rumford, Mayer, Joule, Helmholtz, Snell, Roemer, Michelson, Gilbert, Franklin, Cavendish, Coulomb, Galvani, Volta, Ohm, Thomson, Oersted, Ampere, Faraday, Plank, Einstein, Rutherford, Maxwell, learning about the roots and development of ancient astronomy, modern astronomy, motion, force, gravity, statics, optics, fluids, energy, power, collisions, sound, heat, electrostatics, electrochemistry, electric circuits, magnetism, electromagnetism, light, the atomic theory of matter, x-rays, radioactivity, atomic spectra, the atomic nucleus, nuclear fission and fusion.

Time permitting, maybe also other topics like systems of particles, rotation, interference and diffraction, entropy, and relativity.

Possible texts, books, and readings:

  1. Physics by Tipler, Worth Publishers, Inc., (c) Worth Publishers, Inc.
  2. Physics by Halliday & Resnick, John Wiley & Sons publishers, (c) John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  3. Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday & Resnick, John Wiley & Sons publishers, (c) John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  4. Two New Sciences by Galileo Galilei, trans. Crew & Alfonso, Dover Publications, Inc.
  5. Discoveries and Opinions of Galileo, trans. Stillman Drake, Doubleday Anchor Books, (c) Stillman Drake
  6. Selections from Aristotle, at The Internet Classics Archive
  7. On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres by Copernicus

Chemistry

Course description: we will cover chemistry from an inductive, historical perspective.

It is important for students to learn how and why scientists developed the ideas and theories they did; today, most science is taught as coming out of nowhere and being true just because the teacher or book says so — not at all how any science should be taught.

Science should be taught as science has been done: starting with the evidence of the senses, and developing concepts, propositions, principles, explanations, and theories step by step from there.

We should follow the actual method of the scientists of the ages, something studied most successfully and most recently by the philospher-physicist David Harriman of Falling Apple Science.

We will cover Roger Bacon, Bernard Trevisan, Theophrastus Bombastus (Paracelsus), John Becher, Roberty Boyle, Joseph Priestley, Henry Cavendish, Antoine Lavoisier, John Dalton, John Berzelius, Amedeo Avogadro, Freidrich Woehler, Dmitri Mendeleeff, Savante Arrhenius, Marie Curie, Joseph Thomson, Henry Moseley, Irving Langmuir, and more, learning about the roots and development of alchemy, chemistry, the theory of gases, the theory of matter, atomic theory, atomic structure, the periodic table, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, bonding, solutions, chemical kinetics, electrochemistry, acids and bases.

Time permitting, maybe also other topics like organic chemistry and biochemistry.

Possible texts, books, and readings:

  1. Chemistry: The Central Science by Brown, LeMay, Burdge & Bursten, Pearson Education publishers, (c) Pearson Education, Inc.
  2. Chemistry by Zumdahl & Zumdahl, Houghton Mifflin publishers, (c) Houghton Mifflin Company
  3. Chemistry by Mortimer, Wadsworth Publishing Company, (c) Wadsworth, Inc.
  4. Crucibles: The Story of Chemistry by Jaffe, available on The Internet Archive and Google Books
  5. Crusaders of Chemistry by Leonard, available on The Internet Archive and Google Books
  6. The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments by Brent, Golden Press Publishers, (c) Golden Press, Inc., availble for on About.com

“Jack made an 87 on his test. That’s his highest test grade yet in pre AP chemistry! We are thrilled! Thank you!” —Joy R, parent of a high school student

A student of mine, GR, made an 85 on her chem 1 midterm, maintaining her B average.

A student earned a 96 on a physics test — honors physics at an elite private school. He was smiling when he told me. He was proud of himself.

“Michael expounds all that is science in such an interesting and exciting way! He always keeps my kids engaged and thinking that science is fun!

“He presents science in a logical, rational, integrated way – making it easy and possible to take everything they are learning and apply it in ‘the real world’… not just a list of useless facts, but tangible, knowable, valuable life lessons.

“He builds a great foundation with biology first and all the rest of the sciences following and integrating from there. Who knew that biology, physics, physical fitness, and chemistry are all related and integrated? Just take a few science classes with Michael, and you’ll see for yourself!

“Whether you’re homeschooling and want to seriously upgrade your science curriculum or just want to supplement your child’s deplorably lacking public school science education. Michael will make science fun, interesting, and relevant to your kids’ lives – and yours!”
—Melanie H, mother of three homeschooled children to whom I taught science

Contact Michael today: by email at MichaelGold@GoldAMS.com or by phone at 281-770-2276.

A student of mine earned a 97 on a physics test.

Another earned a 97 on a chemistry test.

An ex-student said he earned a 102 in Immunology at Texas A&M. The professor said to him that it was the highest grade she’d given in that class in 20 years. I did not help him in biology or immunology, but he does give me lots of credit for teaching him good thinking skills, logic, and a philosophical perspective that lets him be reasonable, logical, and successful.

“We just can’t say enough great things about how you not only teach, but motivate them to truly learn conceptually! We think you are the best tutor we’ve had AND don’t forget that we have another son in 7th grade!” —Molly P, parent of a high school student

“I learned to reason and use logic to start solving things in everyday life. It’s pretty useful at work when I use reasoning to find root causes, and to find and fix problems. You teach people how to THINK!” —Dylan T, ex-high school student

“Michael provokes and encourages logical, rational thinking that you will use beyond your time with him. He helped me develop critical thinking that immensely benefited me. He will teach you how to deconstruct complex problems and come to a decision yourself.” —Jacob L, ex-high school student

“Prior to working with Michael, I had very little hope of actually pursuing my dream to work in the aerospace industry as an engineer. Yet here I am, finishing an engineering degree at A&M this Fall and working at Bell Helicopter as an engineer. With Michael’s help, I came to understand the importance of not only mathematics, but also reason, rationality, and a constant pursuit of knowledge. I cannot recommend Michael enough for any student of any subject, this guy is simply the best.” — Drew T, ex-high school student

“Gold Academy sets the standard for excellence among tutoring services. I was a student of Michael Gold for around 7 years, and the education I received has had an immeasurably positive impact on my life.

“I originally only sought out tutoring for Geometry & Algebra, during middle school, in order to place into higher level math classes. I found the tutoring to be so valuable that I continued my lessons even after placing into and acing my desired courses – I received tutoring in math through high school and some of college (all the way up to 3D Calculus). Additionally, I received tutoring for English and Grammar, Physics, SAT prep and more.

“Gold’s tutoring helped me achieve A’s in my classes and great scores on standardized tests, but this was just the ‘tip of the iceberg.’ With each lesson I also learned how to better think logically, carefully and reasonably. These skills are essential to life and have helped me immensely – I still use the learning/study methods I developed through Gold’s lessons to earn top scores in many college courses and to do well in my work and hobbies.

“I will forever be grateful to Gold Academy, and highly recommend the service to any student who is looking to start learning, thinking and living.” — Rajiv R, ex-middle school and high school student

In this podcast, Michael and his co-host Melanie talk to teacher Scott Harris on the need to improve science education:

Serving Tomball, Cypress, Spring, Klein, Houston, Katy, the Woodlands, and surrounding areas, including but not limited to Tomball High School, Cypress Creek High School, Cy-Fair High School, Jersey Village High School, Seven Lakes High School, Kinkaid, St. John’s, St. Agnes, Houston Christian, Concordia Lutheran, John Cooper, Klein High School, Lamar High School, Memorial High School, Rice University, University of Houston, Episcopal High School.