Frequently Asked Questions

I tutor many things! If the subject occurs within grade school, the answer is yes. I also tutor most school-related topics beyond that (elementary, college, etc.). For an overview of what I teach, check out my list of services.

If the subject you need isn’t on the list, feel free to ask about it! It is possible I haven’t added it yet. However, one of my super powers is my love of learning (combined with teaching of course). If you can identify a subject I have not thoroughly learned or taught yet, I will offer a discount on tutoring as I learn it with you and teach it!

I do indeed! While I don’t think it’s productive to try and turn a six-year-old into a super-student or anything like that, there is great value in fostering a penchant for learning at a young age. The focus usually boils down to something math related or something reading-writing related.

It may sound oversimplified, but, with math, some of the main priorities are using manipulatives and making it fun. Manipulatives are just tangible things that let a student visualize math concepts in the real world! I have so many little tokens, geometric figures, dice, and other such things to facilitate that kind of learning. Fun is harder to define, but the idea is to explore the world of learning with mathy terms.

Writing also requires fun, but the rest of it looks like reading, writing, and talking. There are the technical aspects of writing like spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc. However, students—especially younger students—also need to be shown the joy of understanding words as well as the power of expressing themselves.

Most of my students are in the middle to high school range, but learning shouldn’t stop after grade school! I have worked with adults both in the context of teaching classes as well as one-on-one tutoring for a variety of topics beyond common academic subjects. Check out my list of services to see if your need is already in my repertoire. If not, let’s chat about what you’re trying to accomplish.

I have worked with a large variety of clients and will be able to accommodate most needs. For normal subject tutoring, I have worked with students who have ADD or ADHD, and I have worked with students who are on the autism spectrum. I have also had the privilege of assisting in classrooms with students who have severe and/or multiple disabilities.

If a client has special medical needs, an IEP, or some other unique concern, feel free to discuss with me. Let’s talk about the specific challenges you or your student may be facing and what your long-term objectives are.

My prices are not outlandish, but they are high. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for, and I am an exceptional tutor for many reasons.

The plainest reason is my experience. I have been tutoring and teaching since 2005. Since then, I have worked with hundreds of students one-on-one, I have taught in public schools, I have taught at homeschool co-ops, and I have hosted extracurricular classes. There are a few more contexts in which I have had some kind of teaching role, but those are the most relevant.

I also have a great breadth of knowledge. My educational training was for high school mathematics. My thirst for knowledge doesn’t stop there though. Since the beginning of my pedagogic career, I’ve studied or taught many subjects including but not limited to chemistry, origami, creative writing, and life skills. The list is extensive, and the result of this collection is that I can synthesize concepts between subjects for students. I can also answer some of the more nuanced questions that might pop up.

Another asset I provide is professionalism. This includes many facets—from communication to punctuality, from consistency to respectfulness, from providing clear feedback to offering supplementary resources.

Additionally, I offer a lot of flexibility. When possible, consistent weekly schedules are ideal, but our responsibilities are often in flux. I do my best to accommodate that flux. I meet with most of my students at the same time time every week. Some contact me on a case-by-case basis. Others create an unpredictable hybrid of the two. Whatever the case, I am not bothered by schedule changes as long as they are communicated in a timely manner.

There are so many other factors that contribute to a productive tutoring experience. I would love to chat with you about how I can help both empower your academic success as well as make the experience as pain-free as possible.

I don’t work on Sundays. Beyond that, my availability is flexible! Besides my students who are often making adjustments to their schedules, I have a number of other responsibilities that have varying levels of consistency. I believe the most effective approach to this question is sharing with me some times you’d be available for tutoring, and we’ll sort it out from there.

Sessions can be held just about anywhere. I work at clients’ homes, local libraries, coffee shops, and more. Typically, I try to find a location in between the client and me so that neither of us has to commute very far.

Another option that has worked very well is Skype or some other video-streaming software. Google Classroom and Documents allow me to share work real-time with clients as we're working via Skype or another program.

I require clients to notify me of a cancellation 24 hours or more in advance. However—while I appreciate having some time to adjust my schedule if a client can’t make a session—I understand that life happens. Medical and family emergencies are of course excused. Other cancellations can be discussed.

Are you looking for writing prompts, a course on publishing your own book, origami lessons, or simply something to spark your imagination? Check out Shop Gamut for additional resources!