Experience Summary
John Andrew Sonneborn, D.Min. (212) 532-1563.. My name is John. I am a highly educated, richly experienced, energetic teacher and tutor, who guided the skills development, and formed warm relationships with more than a thousand children of all ages and diverse backgrounds in the 11th Street East KUMON Learning Center that I owned until March 2009....
During that period and since, I have also successfully tutored students preparing for entrance examinations, Regents' examinations, or the SAT....
Since 2009 I have been teaching, tutoring, and mentoring students in charter schools, and giving tutoring, homework help, and test preparation in the homes of children, youths. and adults.....
In addition to my work as a professional tutor, I helped in the homework of my two sons (now in their early twenties) through gifted-and-talented programs and into Stuyvesant High School, and was a parent representative on the School Based Management Team at MS 104.....
When helping a child, I show interest in the child and the child's immediate situation. I express warmth, responsiveness and appreciation. I nicely encourage a child for a given activity or one that I create. I am always upbeat, positive, and enthusiastic.....
Before tutoring, I was an adjunct instructor creating and teaching courses and guiding, one-on-one, lecture practice at a seminary with an international student body, in connection with which I edited or copy-edited philosophical books and essays. An academic press published my own scholarly essay in an anthology....
Earlier, I was the regional executive director of a nonprofit organization, organizing conferences and forums on societal issues.....
A SUMMARY OF MY METHODOLOGY IN TUTORING MATH & ENGLISH SKILLS...
In addition to suggesting test-taking techniques specific to the Math sections,I locate any foundational weaknesses in the student's knowledge and skills, and help him or her remedy them. I may simultaneously teach new processes....
I give a clear, step-by-step explanation of a rule or process, with an example, write these down for the student to consult, and guide the student in learning to complete the process.
I am currently also tutoring online,especially helping students compose or edit written assignments. I am the published author of academic texts.
Teaching Style
When helping a child, I show interest in the child and the child's immediate situation. I express warmth, responsiveness and appreciation. I nicely encourage a child for a given activity or one that I create. I am always upbeat, positive, and enthusiastic In the educational process, I form an idea of what the student is ready to learn, and form an idea of a learning task (discussion or practice) and of how I might introduce it. I am open to suggestions from the learner for this (or at any moment). Learning should be enjoyable.If a task proves not to be intrinsically stimulating, I present accomplishing it as a challenge. I praise efforts and seek to minimize frustration--I have a technique for this, to be used when necessary. Finally, the majority of time during any session is time during which the student is learning, with a minimum of my instructing.
Other Comments
I am friendly, empathetic, inventive,enthusiastic, and responsible.