Our Tutors

Jim J

Teaching Style

I believe that the possibilities of learning are incredible, especially with understanding the tools of both teaching and learning whether that is textbooks, computers, or something else. It is important to ascertain how a student learns, and adjust to them. I’ve discovered in my teaching of children that it is critical to create a foundation of understanding then build upon it through repetition of the basic ideals while adding to what is already established. Children are amazingly open to new ideas, and take on new challenges with excitement, so it is my job as instructor to guide them in their journey. I also feel that early learning is fundamental to the way individuals learn later in life, so helping children learn how to overcome obstacles becomes a way of expanding their educational possibilities.

Experience Summary

Throughout my higher educational career, I’ve been driven to learn as much as possible to help satisfy my enormous curiosity. I have earned a bachelor degree in English Literature, and am currently a MFA candidate in the creative writing program at Arizona State University. As part of my graduate funding, I work as a teaching assistant. The program requires constant training, and I enjoy taking part in understanding the way students learn. In addition to teaching at the university, I work with the Office of Youth Preparation—teaching not only the craft of poetry, but helping 4th and 5th graders develop language skills necessary to do well in school. Although I primarily work with the study of English, I study Spanish and have become proficient with the use of the language.

Karissa K

Teaching Style

I love one-on-one tutoring because of the complete attention I can pay to the tutee’s specific needs and his or her learning style. My personality is encouraging, positive and patient, and that has served me well in building relationships with repeat tutees at the Writing Center over the past two years. To me, the primary role of a tutor is to explore ideas about the subject in a way that there is not time for in the classroom and also to ask tutees the questions they would not think to ask themselves about their ideas. I can help tutees explore the potential of their ideas and how to own the skills they already possess. My role is also to help the tutee expand his or her knowledge base and tools for future writing through examples, research and discussion.

Experience Summary

As a tutor at the University of Arizona Writing Center, I worked with undergraduate, graduate and international students on all aspects of the writing process. This encompassed higher and lower order concerns including brainstorming, outlining, drafting, formatting, thesis and topic sentence work, grammar and ESL concerns, research methods, and content. My tutees came from all majors including English, History, Business, and the sciences. I worked on everything from rhetorical analyses to technical writing for business to personal statements and research papers. I also spent two semesters in an online tutoring program for high school students to submit drafts of their college admissions essays for commentary. They could then make revisions and resubmit additional drafts for further critiquing. Additionally, as a Magna Cum Laude History graduate with a Political Science minor, I focused on American History and government and developed a passion for those topics I love to impart on others.

Stuart S

Teaching Style

As a product of top-notch education I feel that I have become intimately familiar with effective teaching styles and have thereby tried to replicate the best of these styles. I would describe my teaching style as adaptive because I feel a certain teaching style that works for one student may be inadequate for another student. For this reason I strive to first determine how a particular student learns and subsequently derive an action plan. For example, if a student seems to retain information from a book or other types of visual material but not from a teacher's lecture I would deem that student to be a more visual based learner. In such a scenario, I would approach the student in a visual based manner through animations, practice problems, and other visual material. On the other hand, if the student was found to be a more auditory-based learner that student may benefit from descriptive metaphors or a verbal walk through of sample problems.

Experience Summary

As a graduate of Bucknell University and the prestigious Mercersburg Academy, I gained a strong affinity for education and thereby providing quality learning experiences for others. While at the Mercersburg Academy I earned a 700 math score and a 680 verbal score on my SATs. At Bucknell I earned a bachelor's of science degree in biochemistry and cell biology while gaining extensive experience in chemistry, biology, psychology, physics, math, and scientific research. I have also gained extensive writing experience in the form of research papers, lab reports, and numerous other classes at both Bucknell and Mercersburg that required a plethora of writing. During the past year I served as an Honors and Accelerated Chemistry teacher at the esteemed Worcester Academy while tutoring biology, physics, and chemistry students during the evenings.

Michelle M

Teaching Style

I value the learning styles of each individual student and regardless of subject matter, I emphasize developing study skills to enable the student to apply what he or she learns in every subject/course.

Experience Summary

In the last nine years, I have actively addressed the goals and available resources of diverse student populations. During college, I tutored through several organizations, including AVID, Hermanas Intimas, and the Ophelia Project. Later at San Francisco State University, I served as a Teaching Assistant for two semesters and two departments. Prior to these experiences, I have taught English, ESL, and EFL to native and non-native English speakers domestically as well as internationally. English was not my first language, and I use my own experiences with language and culture to communicate successfully with students from all backgrounds. Furthermore, I am very comfortable with online learning platforms as I have not only taken countless online courses but have also assisted professors in further developing and improving their online courses. I have experience with backend website support and have developed websites as well.

Jason J

Teaching Style

I truly enjoy teaching and watching a student’s growth both academically and personally with my assistance. I can not say that I have only one teaching style. The art of teaching is finding out what is the best way for my students to learn. Each and every student has a different way of learning; may it be lecture, demonstration, or question and answer. The great thing about teaching is that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way of expressing the material. Many times you have to use multiple methods of teaching to help the students gain a more thorough understanding. Having some professional experience in the Chemistry field is a great tool for both gaining the student’s attention and relating what is done in the classroom to real life scenarios. I gain great satisfaction from helping students obtain the goals they have set.

Experience Summary

I graduated from King's College in Pennsylvania in May of 2002 with my BS in Chemistry. I decided to return to school for another semester to do my student teaching and become certified in secondary education. I spent twelve weeks teaching 10th through 12th grade students in Chemistry and eight weeks teaching Advanced Chemistry. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and look forward to one day having my own classroom and becoming a teacher and mentor to younger children. After graduating, I decided that I needed to gain some real life experience that I could apply and have students relate to before entering the classroom. So for the past 5 years I have worked in a variety of laboratory settings. Currently I am working as an Analytical Chemist for a Cosmetic / Pharmaceutical company on Long Island. I have tutored a few students over the past two years in Chemistry, Physics, and Math with great success.

Tyler T

Teaching Style

At the university level, my experience has shown me that all students can have trouble from basic to advanced concepts. During the first meeting I explain to the student that it is not only my job, but theirs to help themselves succeed, and to understand what troubles they are having with their specific courses. I follow the student through their book carefully, and prepare myself for the individual tutoring lessons. This form of education has given me the best results for the students.

Experience Summary

Tutoring began for me at Montana State University-Northern while attending school majoring in Pre-Med. I worked at Student Support Services for five semesters tutoring mostly science based classes. I fell in love with giving knowledge and helping students understand concepts of their specific courses. I am two semesters away from obtaining my B.S in Pre-Med with a minor in chemistry. I have always enjoyed working with multiple levels of students, but prefer high school and up. Math and science are my preferred areas for tutoring including: Introductory chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics 1, cellular biology, anatomy and physiology, zoology, microbiology, and molecular biology.

Hazetta H

Teaching Style

Being an educator various teaching styles were implemented, but my preference is Constructivism Philosophy of teaching. This philosophy introduces various techniques and strategies fostering a student-centered learning atmosphere. This method offered a structured setting for high and low functioning students. The students initiated and created positive effective learning opportunities in groups. This has established and maintained positive relationships with students, parents, colleagues and community advocators. This has fostered a safe and learning environment.

Experience Summary

As a veteran teacher, I have managed classroom from elementary to secondary classes. I assumed diverse responsibilities from special and standard diploma students (reading, phonics, math, learning strategies, language arts, and career education). Conferred with parents weekly/ monthly, implemented various assessment tools to meet the varying academic functioning levels. Collaborated and assist in designing modified behavior plans for under achievers and potential at risk students. I am an enthusiastic educator with a passionate commitment to develop student’s achievement. I advocate challenging, enriching and innovating opportunities for exceptional education students. I am a team member who strives to effectively collaborate with all levels of staff members to establish quality relationships with students. I implemented a Community Based Instruction Program (CBI) for students seeking future employment in the community for three years.

Sharon S

Teaching Style

I enjoy teaching, and continue to work at combining different instructional techniques in order to target and motivate my students who are of different cultures and ethnicity. I use a combination of hands-on/lab activities, guest speakers, field trips, multimedia, questioning, discussions, and lectures. I am also passionate about helping students to make real-world connections to help them develop science literacy in order to become science literate adults. As an educator I believe in maintaining order in the classroom so that my students are able to learn in an ordered and caring environment, and I strongly believe in providing timely feedback to students so that they can maximize their learning.

Experience Summary

As a chemistry graduate I gained invaluable experience in the fields of research & development, and forensic chemistry, as well as in the pharmaceutical industry as a medical representative. I later became interested in teaching and completed my master's degree in science education. I have been teaching for the past 3 years. I currently teach high school chemistry, AP chemistry and environmental science, at a charter school. Over the years I have developed my computer skills, and my management capabilities, as well as my ability to work with people of different cultures and ethnicity.