Hello!

English can be tricky to learn, especially at the beginning of reading or AP literature or somewhere in the middle if students are learning English as a second or third (or more) language or have unique learning challenges or styles. I've got you!

I like to tailor my teaching style to the specific needs of each student, but regardless of the type of child I believe that parents are paying for me to engage with the child fully through the lesson. Supplemental videos, books, and review games can be incorporated outside of the tutoring session. In fact, you have probably already tired those. I engage through discussion, and listening to the child is highly important to me. 



Each session will start with personal connection: How is the student doing that day, are there concerns specific for this session - maybe an upcoming test or project or just some especially tricky homework. This is the beauty of tutoring is that each session is tailored to the needs of the student. 

The majority of the lesson will vary depending on the age of the student. To you as a parent I think this is obvious and although it is such a range, I have taught both Honors English to 11th graders and the very beginning steps to first graders. With younger student I will incorporate phonics games, hands on activities, and reading aloud. I have seen students go from learning the ABCs to reading chapter books in less than one school year. With older students it is incredibly important to me that I LISTEN to them. Older students know what they need and don't need, and if they don't that is an indication of what is needed too. 

Middle School is an especially tricky time to keep up and understand everything in school. Entering middle school and exiting middle school into high school can be so confusing in themselves that students feel lost. The goal in tutoring in these age ranges is to add some focus, attention, direction, and a helper to come along side and encourage with the academics so parents and the student can focus on all the other major transitions.

For Upper high school and Honors English. I think it goes without saying that comprehending that level of literature is pretty tricky. Let's discuss it together. Let's read the portions that are most complicated, and let's go over the complex assignments together. 

Writing! Writing at any level can be a challenge because it is an advanced skill, yet class sizes are often too large for teachers to help students in the way they need. When needed we will work sentence by sentence to learn how to write different types of paragraphs. 
 
Then there are students who feel they have fallen behind in standards and want help catching up. You are not alone. I'm here to help with focus, understanding of assignments, and speeding up the learning process by taking some of the "how to" load off of you. I do this by reviewing homework, creating games in specific areas of struggle, and adding activities specific to the student's learning style (for example diagramming a sentence if grammar is a struggle, or acting out a story if comprehension is a struggle, or playing focus or eye coordination games for unique learning challenges. 

Lastly, I have a certificate in teaching English as a Foreign Language and for a majority of my former students English is not their first language. For these students' life, learning, and school are already stressful enough, so I add stress free games, and activities that incorporate learning English comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. 
Some examples of what upper elementary, middle school, and lower high school students will walk away from tutoring being able to do are:
1) Writing different types of paragraphs sentence by sentence. 
2) Explaining Literary Devices
3) Analyzing Literature 
4) Understanding advanced and classical literature

I hope you walk away from this summary realizing that connecting, encouraging, and supporting are core values in my teaching and that if that is important to you and your student, we may be a fantastic fit!