Susan
Certified Tutor
I am a joyful, passionate,and fun teacher. I have a BA in French, an MA in Teaching of Writing, and a PhD in Rhetoric. I have been teaching and tutoring writing for 24 years. I am an expert on grammar and mechanics. I can help you develop your thesis, your argument, your paragraphs, your introduction, and your conclusion. I am incredibly good at helping write college application essays. In addition, I can help you find quality research and integrate it professionally into your essays. I do test prep as well, from elementary through graduate student. I'm also patient and kind, and I care very much for my students. I look forward to working with you!
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Undergraduate Degree: Washington University in St Louis - Bachelors, French
Graduate Degree: Carnegie Mellon University - PHD, Rhetoric
Poetry slam, creative writing, community theatre, geology, space sciences, evolution, American History, stand up comedy, archaeology, unconnected tribes, linguistics, film, revolutionary rock and roll, anthrolophology.
- ACCUPLACER Arithmetic
- ACCUPLACER ESL
- ACCUPLACER ESL - Listening
- ACCUPLACER ESL - Reading Skills
- ACCUPLACER ESL - Sentence Meaning
- ACCUPLACER Language Use
- ACCUPLACER WritePlacer
- ACT English
- ACT Reading
- ACT Science
- ACT Writing
- Administrative Law
- Adult ESL/ELL
- Adult Literacy
- African-American History
- AIMS Prep
- American Literature
- Ancient and Medieval Heritage
- Anthropology
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP Research
- AP Seminar
- Art
- ASVAB Prep
- Audition Prep
- Basic Computer Literacy
- Business
- Business Writing
- California Proficiency Program (CPP) Prep
- CLEP Prep
- CLEP American Government
- CLEP American Literature
- CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
- CLEP College Composition
- CLEP College Composition Modular
- CLEP English Literature
- CLEP French
- CLEP History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present
- CLEP Human Growth and Development
- CLEP Humanities
- CLEP Introduction to Educational Psychology
- CLEP Introductory Psychology
- CLEP Introductory Sociology
- CLEP Social Sciences and History
- CogAT Prep
- College Application Essays
- College English
- College Level American Literature
- COMPASS Reading
- COMPASS Writing Skills
- Composition
- Creative Writing
- CSAP/ TCAP Prep
- DAT Reading Comprehension
- Earth Science
- ECAA Prep
- ECAA/ERB
- Elementary School
- Elementary School Math
- Elementary School Reading
- Elementary School Science
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- ERB CTP
- ERB WrAP
- ESL/ELL
- Essay Editing
- Expository Writing
- FCAT 2.0 Prep
- Fiction Writing
- French
- French 1
- GATE/ TAG Prep
- GED Prep
- GED Math
- GED Reasoning Through Language Arts
- GED Science
- GED Social Studies
- GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment
- Graduate Test Prep
- GRE Analytical Writing
- GRE Subject Test in Literature in English
- GRE Subject Tests
- GRE Verbal
- Handwriting
- High School English
- High School Level American History
- High School Level American Literature
- High School Political Science
- High School Writing
- History
- HSPT Language Skills
- HSPT Verbal
- IB
- IB Extended Essay
- IB Film
- IB Geography
- IB Language A: Language and Literature
- IB Language ab initio
- IB Language B
- IB Literature and Performance
- IB Social and Cultural Anthropology
- IB Theory of Knowledge
- Introduction to Fiction
- ISAT Prep
- ISEE Prep
- ISEE- Lower Level
- ISEE- Middle Level
- ISEE- Primary
- ISEE-Lower Level Mathematics Achievement
- ISEE-Lower Level Quantitative Reasoning
- ISEE-Lower Level Reading Comprehension
- ISEE-Lower Level Verbal Reasoning
- ISEE-Lower Level Writing
- ISEE-Middle Level Mathematics Achievement
- ISEE-Middle Level Quantitative Reasoning
- ISEE-Middle Level Reading Comprehension
- ISEE-Middle Level Verbal Reasoning
- ISEE-Middle Level Writing
- ISEE-Upper Level Reading Comprehension
- ISEE-Upper Level Verbal Reasoning
- ISEE-Upper Level Writing
- Journalism
- Languages
- Law
- Legal Writing
- Linguistics
- LSAT Essay Section
- LSAT Logical Reasoning
- Math
- Medical Terminology
- Medicine
- Middle School
- Middle School Reading
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- NNAT Prep
- OAT Quantitative Reasoning
- OAT Reading Comprehension
- OLSAT Prep
- Other
- PARCC Prep
- PCAT Quantitative Ability
- PCAT Verbal Ability
- PCAT Writing
- Poetry
- Political Science
- PRAXIS
- PSAT Critical Reading
- SAT Reading
- SAT Subject Test in World History
- SAT Subject Tests Prep
- SAT Writing and Language
- Science
- SHSAT Prep
- Social Sciences
- Social Studies
- SSAT Prep
- SSAT- Elementary Level
- SSAT- Middle Level
- SSAT- Upper Level
- STAAR EOC Prep
- STAAR Grades 3-8 Prep
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
- TACHS Prep
- TEAS Prep
- Technology and Coding
- Test Prep
- Theatre
- TOEFL Prep
- WISC IV Prep
- World Civilization
- World Literature
- WPPSI Prep
- Writing
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is that people learn much more efficiently and permanently when they are having fun. My lessons are fun and visual, and often include games. I do not provide strict answers ... I teach you how to learn on your own. If you are interested, my main influence is Paulo Freire and Lev Vygotsky. Both educators believe in starting in student experience and building from there. I am very, very good at what I do. Students love me, but much, much more importantly, they love me too. I can't wait to work with you!
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
First, I would find out what the topic is. Then I would assess if I could do the right thing by that student in helping them. In terms of writing, I'd be sure they had a thesis and content first, and then I'd focus on grammar and mechanics. I want students to come away from their experience with not just with a better grade, but with a better learning experience.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
I won't give answers...instead, I will teach students how to become active learners in their own right. For example, when teaching grammar, I have specific fun exercises that help them visualize how to use commas. These exercises work. Students are in charge of their work. I am a mentor helping them to scaffold to the next level.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
There are several things I could do. I could ask a colleague with experience in developmental education. I could research pedagogy. And if it fails, I would recommend another tutor. I highly doubt it would come to that, but I am willing to ask others for help. After all, that is human.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
I am trained in reading comprehension. First, I advise students to look up a word they don't know, and then incorporate them into their own sentences. Second, I highly recommend annotation for every single paragraph, paraphrasing what the paragraph is teaching.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I ask them about themselves. What are their strengths and weaknesses? What do they enjoy doing? Connecting pedagogy to what interests them is one of the very best ways to teach. In fact, this is probably my main strength. Students learn best when they can apply their knowledge to their own lives.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
Again, connecting the subject matter to their hobbies and their future plans is the best way to engage students.
What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?
I would ask them questions I devised myself. For example, in grammar, I would write sentences and ask them to correct them. Secondarily, I would ask them to correct their own work after I gave them lessons.
How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?
I tell them that if a person like me, a poor girl from the projects, can succeed -- with two Ivy League degrees -- then they can do ANYTHING they want. All it takes is perseverance and the ability to break big tasks into smaller, more doable tasks.
How do you evaluate a student's needs?
I will look at their work, first. Then, I will ask them what they think they need to work on, and additionally ask them what their instructors think they should be working on.
How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?
Adapting to student needs depends on each individual student. As I work at a community college, one of the first things I learned was to take an individual approach to EVERY student. I will do the same as a tutor, as some students may struggle with disabilities, with children and other jobs, and with other issues. I am sensitive to their lives.
What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?
It depends on the lesson. I have many pre-made grammar and punctuation lessons. I also have premade guides on the writing process. Other times, I use my own experience.