Our Tutors Near Phoenix

Jim J

Teaching Style

I believe that the possibilities of learning are incredible, especially with understanding the tools of both teaching and learning whether that is textbooks, computers, or something else. It is important to ascertain how a student learns, and adjust to them. I’ve discovered in my teaching of children that it is critical to create a foundation of understanding then build upon it through repetition of the basic ideals while adding to what is already established. Children are amazingly open to new ideas, and take on new challenges with excitement, so it is my job as instructor to guide them in their journey. I also feel that early learning is fundamental to the way individuals learn later in life, so helping children learn how to overcome obstacles becomes a way of expanding their educational possibilities.

Experience Summary

Throughout my higher educational career, I’ve been driven to learn as much as possible to help satisfy my enormous curiosity. I have earned a bachelor degree in English Literature, and am currently a MFA candidate in the creative writing program at Arizona State University. As part of my graduate funding, I work as a teaching assistant. The program requires constant training, and I enjoy taking part in understanding the way students learn. In addition to teaching at the university, I work with the Office of Youth Preparation—teaching not only the craft of poetry, but helping 4th and 5th graders develop language skills necessary to do well in school. Although I primarily work with the study of English, I study Spanish and have become proficient with the use of the language.

Sharon S

Teaching Style

I enjoy working with young people and making an impact on their academic success. I don't know if I have a particular teaching style, but I believe that education is not a "one size fits all" proposition and good educators must adapt their style to fit the needs of their student which I strive for every time I meet a new student.

Experience Summary

Although I do not have a degree in Education, I have years of experience as a teaching assistant, teacher, tutor and curriculum designer. My experience mostly focuses on helping students improve their writing skills, but I also work with students with their reading comprehension since they go hand in hand. I have taught composition at the community college level which enables me to help students with papers at all levels from basic exposition to research methodology and citation format.

Timothy T

Teaching Style

First I would like to get to know the student and parents, focusing mainly on the student's interests and goals as well as how they feel about the particular subject they will be tutored in. After that I would have the student show me where they currently are in class and what they need help with. Then, depending on the particular circumstances, I would create a plan to get the student caught up and self-sufficient as quickly as possible. Even though fast results are what I hope for, the student would set the pace of the sessions. No topics would be overlooked and they would all receive as much time as the student needs to master them.

Experience Summary

I attended MTSU and received a bachelor’s degree in Biology. After college I worked at a food-microbiology lab in Nashville for a year. I plan to teach science in Africa with the Peace Corps for two years. I am very capable in most areas of math and science. I am also outgoing and easy to get along with.

Stuart S

Teaching Style

As a product of top-notch education I feel that I have become intimately familiar with effective teaching styles and have thereby tried to replicate the best of these styles. I would describe my teaching style as adaptive because I feel a certain teaching style that works for one student may be inadequate for another student. For this reason I strive to first determine how a particular student learns and subsequently derive an action plan. For example, if a student seems to retain information from a book or other types of visual material but not from a teacher's lecture I would deem that student to be a more visual based learner. In such a scenario, I would approach the student in a visual based manner through animations, practice problems, and other visual material. On the other hand, if the student was found to be a more auditory-based learner that student may benefit from descriptive metaphors or a verbal walk through of sample problems.

Experience Summary

As a graduate of Bucknell University and the prestigious Mercersburg Academy, I gained a strong affinity for education and thereby providing quality learning experiences for others. While at the Mercersburg Academy I earned a 700 math score and a 680 verbal score on my SATs. At Bucknell I earned a bachelor's of science degree in biochemistry and cell biology while gaining extensive experience in chemistry, biology, psychology, physics, math, and scientific research. I have also gained extensive writing experience in the form of research papers, lab reports, and numerous other classes at both Bucknell and Mercersburg that required a plethora of writing. During the past year I served as an Honors and Accelerated Chemistry teacher at the esteemed Worcester Academy while tutoring biology, physics, and chemistry students during the evenings.

Sandow S

Teaching Style

I begin each lesson with the understanding that different students have different approaches to understanding the same concept. I am therefore always prepared to use different approaches to help students who need extra help. Moreover, since I teach science and mathematics, I use day-to-day illustrations and innovative materials to facilitate students' learning. I am very patient and willing to discuss lessons with students who need extra help after school.

Experience Summary

I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology with Physics and Chemistry backing. I recently graduated from a doctoral degree program in Environmental Management with focus on hydro-chemical modeling of water resources using multivariate statistical methods and mass balance methods. I have taught Environmental Science, Physics, Chemistry, Physical Science, Algebra and Geometry for three years at the Passaic County Community College's college and Upward Bound Programs in New Jersey. I have also tutored students of the same program during the three year period. I am therefore confident that I would be able to teach the above mentioned courses without any difficulty.

Natalie N

Teaching Style

With my tutoring experience I have learned that each child learns and comprehends material on an individual level. With that said, it is essential that a teacher understand his/her students' strengths and weaknesses. My goal is to help my students discover how they learn so that they will benefit from their education. In a tutoring atmosphere it is important for students to see how they can apply learning techniques to their future classrooms. Additionally, I believe that students gain the most from education when they are actively involved rather than becoming overwhelmed with information. In order to ensure their engagement, I will understand how they learn and present material accordingly. I am patient with children, and I am passionate that each child can excel if he/she is willing.

Experience Summary

I have earned two bachelor degrees, BA in Elementary Education and BA in English, and have had experience tutoring in both of these fields. As an education student I volunteered in elementary school classrooms and tutored students in a variety of subjects. I have spent the past three years in writing centers working with undergraduate and graduate students, helping them in paper organization, grammar, and concise writing. Additionally, I have worked in a local tutoring center where I aided students in a variety of subjects from preschool reading to high school SAT prep in English.

Justin J

Teaching Style

I am a very enthusiastic tutor and, as I stated in the previous section, believe teaching in such a way that the student gains a true mastery of the given subject. In a sense, I believe in each student understanding a particular concept in their own unique way that is consistent with their unique thinking processes. I strive to do this by relating a given concept analogously to something the student already fundamentally understands. I also create new problems to solve that probe the students’ progress and comprehension. I try to make these problems as realistic as possible to make them interesting to the student.

Experience Summary

Being a Ph.D. candidate and appointed research assistant, I very much realize the importance of true comprehension of a subject. Not only do I hold two B.S. degrees in Applied Mathematics and Chemical Engineering but I also carry credits to the equivalent of a Non-Thesis Masters in Applied Mathematics and am one course shy of a minor in Chemistry. I have tutored groups of students for Sylvan Learning Centers, conducted one-on-one sessions with Educational Enrichment and independently, and prepared and delivered lectures for advanced undergraduate chemical engineering courses. I am capable and experienced in tutoring all levels of mathematics, chemistry, chemical engineering, physics and materials science.

Katherine K

Teaching Style

My passion is learning and my hope is to inspire in my students a genuine love of learning and to help them gain the skills necessary to become lifelong, independent learners. I believe all children can learn in an atmosphere that is encouraging, supportive and structured in such a way as to challenge without discouraging. I believe in authentic learning and in teaching through discovery. I have acquired many different techniques and tools over the years and have learned that there is no one style of teaching that fits all. One reason I enjoy tutoring is that I can take the time to truly know the student and to help them discover which tools work best for them. I strive to make a difference in each of my student's lives.

Experience Summary

I have been actively involved in the field of education for 26 years as a high school English teacher, an elementary reading teacher, and as a school librarian. My teaching career has been varied, including four years working in inner city public schools, 17 years in an exclusive private college preparatory school, and three years as the Director of library services for youth at risk. I graduated summa cum laude and am a member of Phi Beta Kappa with degrees in English, History, Secondary Education and Library Science and have minors in classical literature, romance languages and philosophy. I am a certified Reading Specialist and have trained with the LindaMood Bell reading program. I have worked as a newspaper reporter and done freelance editing and research for local authors. Over the years I have tutored students from elementary school to graduate school in English, history, research, study skills, composition and reading.