Our Tutors

Carla C

Teaching Style

I believe each student has a unique way of learning, and that my job is to discover and support that learning style. Every writer has his or her own voice, and I work to empower writers to express their thoughts as clearly and powerfully as possible. My goal is not to impose information but to guide students in discovery, to support critical thinking and foster new perspectives. Writing is an intensely personal and creative act; I believe in providing a framework within which writing students can comfortably and confidently learn the strategies to speak easily on the page.

Experience Summary

I've spent most of my life helping people learn, starting as a peer tutor in high school! I began teaching professionally as a teaching assistant in college, and since then I've taught in a wide variety of settings, including government training programs, workplace and vocational education, university, high school and community college classes, and private language schools. As a published writer, I mentor and coach writing students in fiction, nonfiction and college composition, and I've designed and developed many classes and programs to support writing students of all levels. I was a tutor for three years at the International School of Languages in Beverly Hills, working with foreign students to improve their command of English. With a BA and MA in Russian studies and a minor in English and journalism, as well as certification in adult literacy, GED and basic education and a community college credential, I have a wide range of experience in language education and writing competency.

Gary G

Teaching Style

My teaching style has been, for the most part, dictated by student response. I am comfortable teaching in a traditional lecture format, in a format that uses a cooperative learning approach exclusively, or in a hybrid format. The goal is for effective learning to take place, and I believe my strongest quality is to be able to adapt in such a way that best helps students reach their academic goals.

Experience Summary

For eight years, I taught freshman and sophomore-level mathematics courses at Arizona State University. These courses included College Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Finite Mathematics, and Elementary Mathematics Theory. Additionally, I have tutored students in these courses both in the Mathematics Department Tutor Center, and on my own personal time.

Nicole N

Teaching Style

Being a tutor allows one to reach out and find the most personal and effective way to connect and instruct a student. My exposure to the many learning styles of students has taught me the importance of first understanding the student's learning style. I also believe it is important for teachers to find motivating factors for students. Lastly, I believe it is the teacher's responsibility to make learning fun for each student. When in combination, these factors create a successful learning environment for students.

Experience Summary

I have been working with children of all ages, from diverse backgrounds, and in a variety of environments for many years. I have been a camp counselor, swim instructor, piano teacher, and religious education teacher. I currently have been substitute teaching in grades K-12. My bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Communication studies in addition to my current graduate work has allowed me a strong command of the English language. I am most confident teaching reading, writing, and other areas of language arts. My vast array of experiences has also allowed me comfort in teaching the basics of mathematics, science, and the arts.

Nova N

Teaching Style

I love seeing students succeed. I am an excellent teacher because I really care, therefore I put in extra effort to planning and making lessons effective. When possible, I use materials that match student interests. I foster an emotionally safe learning environment so that students feel comfortable. I keep my interactions with students very positive. I believe that emphasizing what a student does right works better than focusing on mistakes.

Experience Summary

I am passionate about helping students learn. My experience includes: • 2 years as a Reading teacher and 2 years as an ESOL teacher. • 8 years as a tutor. • 2 years as a manager and supervisor. • 10 years in technology and business systems I have a Master’s degree in Language Education, and I hold several Florida teaching certifications including Reading Endorsement. I have tutored elementary, middle and high school students, as well as adults. Subjects tutored include Reading and English.

Julie J

Teaching Style

Teaching college students has been very rewarding. I encourage active participation in discussion and groups. Each class is started with a question and answer period about any nutrition issue they might have. Most assignments have an aspect of self discovery so that each student can learn something about their nutrition status. Late work is not allowed and attendance is not taken; rather random "reflection" responses are asked to reward those that attend and to ascertain their understanding of the concepts discussed. Each student can excel when the effort is made.

Experience Summary

As an adjunct faculty member at Brigham Young University Idaho since 1995 (it was then Ricks College), I have taught human nutrition, nutrition and the young child, introduction to foods, nutrition for the culinary arts majors, and various classes for the dietetic technician program. I earned my Dietetics degree in 1985 and have practiced as a Registered Dietitian since then. I have worked in clinical settings including hospitals, long term care, assisted living homes and fitness centers. I am a partner in the Idaho Plate Method LLC business, which created a diabetes education tool sold throughout the United States.

Chi Young C

Teaching Style

I believe all students will learn successfully, given the appropriate tools. I place great emphasis in finding their individual learning styles and their strengths and weaknesses. This helps me build an individualized program to target their specific needs and to enhance their strengths. I like to challenge the students to always reach higher and to learn in a meaningful and enjoyable manner.

Experience Summary

As a reading specialist in New York for the last 4 years and a tutor for 10+ years, I have enjoyed teaching students and leading them to success. Continually retooling myself professionally has kept me motivated to learn new techniques and strategies to help students achieve their goals. Because of my many encounters with struggling learners, I understand the academic and social demands on kids. When frustrations arise in school, specialized tutoring can attend to the children's needs and alleviate their struggles. With proper, targeted instruction, I have helped students succeed, feeling more confident to participate in school lessons and activities. With various high quality literature, non fiction, high interest magazines, manipulatives for word work including developing spelling and decoding skills, I have been teaching students with much success. I have also been trained and certified in the Wilson Reading Program. Using this multisensory, phonics-based program, I have led many non-readers to reading with confidence.

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.

Dara D

Teaching Style

I believe in my students and their abilities to learn and synthesize their experiences. My students learn their subjects because I provide a variety of techniques to command their attention. I believe teaching is not just about giving students information but about reaching students who might "get lost" in the system without a guide and friend to help them along.

Experience Summary

I have taught for over ten years in the public school system and learned how to "connect" with students. I have taught physics, chemistry, and mathematics at the high school level, and I have a wide range of teaching experiences in those fields. I have taught AP, honors, and standard classes. Using interesting movies followed by a lab to reinforce the concept is one of the ways I have used to reach students and make a difference in their lives.