Lisa
Certified Tutor
I have a B.A. in English from the University of Kansas and an M.A. in English from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. My area of concentration as an undergraduate was English literature, but what I gained experience in most of all was writing. This continued in my professional career. While not a formal part of my job description, I have been assisting business people with their writing for over twenty years - everything from proposals to resumes and executive communications. A part of my formal role has included writing articles, creating newsletters, interviewing executives, and designing and writing content for marketing materials around the insurance and employee benefits industry.
I'm a big advocate of learning how to write well. Two guideposts on writing for me have been 1) George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language", an essay he wrote in 1948 that speaks to the repercussions of fuzzy writing, and 2) Strunk and White, "The Elements of Style". Both of these are not only entertaining, but timeless and worth reading and rereading. Both speak to the importance of making every word count. Becoming a strong editor of your own work is something I will teach you!
Outside of work and tutoring, I sing in a couple of groups and play jazz piano. I also love art - all kinds, particularly public art. I love the murals and sculpture that are part of the landscape of Chicago, where I live. I read all different kinds of materials, but especially American literature, both North and South.
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Undergraduate Degree: University of Kansas - Bachelors, English
Graduate Degree: University of Missouri-Kansas City - Masters, English
Music - Jazz piano, choral music & classical; art; books - love Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Herman Melville, Wallace Stegner, among others
- 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 Math
- 2nd Grade Reading
- 2nd Grade Writing
- 3rd Grade Math
- 3rd Grade Reading
- 3rd Grade Science
- 3rd Grade Writing
- 4th Grade Math
- 4th Grade Reading
- 4th Grade Writing
- 5th Grade Math
- 5th Grade Reading
- 5th Grade Science
- 5th Grade Writing
- 6th Grade Math
- 6th Grade Reading
- 6th Grade Science
- 6th Grade Writing
- 7th Grade Math
- 7th Grade Reading
- 7th Grade Science
- 7th Grade Writing
- 8th Grade Math
- 8th Grade Reading
- 8th Grade Science
- 8th Grade Writing
- 9th Grade Math
- 9th Grade Reading
- 9th Grade Writing
- ACCUPLACER Elementary Algebra
- ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension
- ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills
- ACCUPLACER WritePlacer
- ACT Writing
- Adult Literacy
- American Literature
- AP United States History
- AP US History
- Arithmetic
- Art History
- British Literature
- CLEP English Literature
- CLEP History of the United States I
- CLEP History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present
- College Level American History
- College Level American Literature
- Elementary School
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Science
- Elementary School Writing
- Fiction Writing
- High School Chemistry
- High School English
- High School Level American History
- High School Level American Literature
- High School Writing
- History
- Introduction to Fiction
- Math
- Middle School Math
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Science
- Middle School Writing
- Persuasive Writing
- Piano
- Poetry
- Public Speaking
- SAT Writing and Language
- Singing
- Social Studies
- Study Skills and Organization
- Summer
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
Find out what your key strengths are and then set some goals - and an attainable timeframe.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
We will identify the words that you are struggling with and develop an ever-expanding vocabulary list, which will be reviewed in each session.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
With almost any subject, there is something that relates to you and your life or interests. We will find out what this is!