Sarah
Certified Tutor
I have been a tutor for ten years, specializing in writing and reading. As a high school student, I began tutoring my peers in writing and research. At Barnard College, Columbia University I was one of 13 students selected from my class as a Barnard College Writing Fellow. After a rigorous selection process, I was trained through an intensive semester-long seminar in critical analysis, persuasive writing and revision. I worked as a Writing Fellow for three years, tutoring and editing student work at every stage from idea to final draft. Throughout my three years, I had the highest rank among student feedback.
Using my training and experience as a college level Writing Fellow, I have tutored many High School students in writing their college essays and applications. As a college application tutor, my philosophy is that each student's application needs to tell a story about who they are. Through the application, the college should be able to get to know the student. I work to not only craft this application but show the student how to better their writing through the process.
I have also as a private tutor focusing on a range of subjects such as History, Psychology, Statistics, and Sociology. I help students prepare for exams using effective study methods as well as complete writing assignments specifically for these subjects.
As a tutor I strive to use specific questions and techniques to enable each student to come to a new understanding of the subject matter and confidence in their mastery.
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Undergraduate Degree: Barnard College - Bachelor in Arts, Urban Studies
Reading, writing, running, yoga, travel, business, entrepreneurship
- 10th Grade Reading
- 10th Grade Writing
- 11th Grade Reading
- 11th Grade Writing
- 12th Grade Reading
- 12th Grade Writing
- 1st Grade
- 1st Grade Math
- 1st Grade Reading
- 1st Grade Writing
- 2nd Grade
- 2nd Grade Math
- 2nd Grade Reading
- 2nd Grade Writing
- 3rd Grade
- 3rd Grade Math
- 3rd Grade Reading
- 3rd Grade Writing
- 4th Grade
- 4th Grade Reading
- 4th Grade Writing
- 5th Grade
- 5th Grade Reading
- 5th Grade Writing
- 6th Grade
- 6th Grade Reading
- 6th Grade Writing
- 7th Grade
- 7th Grade Reading
- 7th Grade Writing
- 8th Grade
- 8th Grade Reading
- 8th Grade Writing
- 9th Grade Reading
- 9th Grade Writing
- Adult Literacy
- Advanced Placement Prep
- American Literature
- Anthropology
- College English
- College Essays
- College Level American Literature
- Comparative Literature
- Elementary School
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Writing
- English
- Essay Editing
- GED Prep
- High School English
- High School Level American Literature
- High School Writing
- Literature
- Math
- Middle School
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Writing
- Other
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- Test Prep
- Urban Design and Development
What is your teaching philosophy?
For me, teaching is about instilling confidence in the subject matter. As a student, my biggest struggle was feeling confident ether in my ability or in my understanding. I have found that this is many students’ largest obstacle. Confidence can be a massive hindrance to a student's understanding and their ability to perform. Through utilizing questions and helping students come to their own answer, my teaching method and philosophy is to show students that they can understand and master a subject.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I believe questions are the most powerful tool we can use in tutoring. In a first session, I would get to know where the student is struggling-- but more importantly, why they are struggling. If a student has trouble focusing, that would lead to a very different session than if a student does not understand.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I can help a student become an independent learner by finding a learning technique that fits that student. Some students are auditory learners; others are visual or any other number of styles. It is important to figure out how this student would excel and help them development techniques that fit them.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
A key way to keep students motivated is through goals. While it is good to set deadlines, this can often burden students with extra work and stress. Rather, when a student feels a sense of understanding or mastery of a subject or technique, it is often very satisfying and can be the best motivational strategy. For example, I was tutoring a student in AP US History, and while she had a good handle on the subject manner, the wording of the questions on the AP Exam confused her. This is a problem many students have. I developed a technique where she would write her own questions in the style of the test and encouraged her to write 4 questions a week. Becoming the test maker broke down a barrier and allowed her to overcome her fear of the test. She felt so satisfied at this mastery that she began writing ten questions a week and used the technique in other courses as well.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
Switch it up. If a student is having difficulty, understand it is often because of the way it is being explained. It is the tutor’s job to find out where the difficulty is stemming from and re-shape the lesson to fit the student’s need.