Experience Summary
I have logged over 5,000 hours of tutoring in the last four years. I have worked for a game company, which taught me how to approach tests as a contest between student and test-maker, and my extensive background as a writer gives me practical experience when it comes to teaching English and related subjects. My competence in math has always been obvious, as my 796 score (maximum 800) on the math SAT will attest. But most important: I love to teach any child or adult who wants to learn.
Teaching Style
I am patient and supportive, but persistent. Each student's mind works differently, and I work tirelessly to find the best way to present material to every child or adult. I have a varied background, not just in the academic world, and I feel I can find the right way to relate to each individual. I try to be somewhat informal, but I recognize the times when a little extra emphasis on the need to really concentrate is necessary.
My Hobbies
I'm 74 years old, but I still stay in good physical condition and compete in triathlons. I am an avid fisherman and follow sports closely, including the sport of politics. I will still answer the challenge to compete in any game as long as my body is up to the task.
Top Subjects
Algebra
I was a math major at Cornell and have been tutoring algebra i for five years.
Algebra I
I was a math major at Cornell and have been tutoring algebra i for five years.
Geometry
I was a math major at Cornell and have tutored geometry for five years.
Pre-Algebra
Introduction to algebra can be daunting to children. All those mysterious symbols can be very confusing. I am a gentle and supportive teacher and I put students at ease. Once the anxiety subsides, most kids learn rapidly.
English
I've been a writer for 40 years.
Grammar
I've been a writer for 40 years and grammar is my specialty.
ACT
Proficiency: Expert, and one of my top Subjects!
ACT has overtaken SAT as the top choice of students applying to college. I teach all four of the subjects, with emphasis on the right way to approach multiple-choice questions and the best use of time.
ASVAB
Proficiency: Expert, and one of my top Subjects!
I've had great success tutoring ASVAB preparation. The material is limited, so I can zero in on the important subjects. I always devise a strategy that is best for the individual student. There are a number of ways to approach multiple-choice questions and I teach them all. My greatest success was a boy who had scored 17 on his first try. When I finished, he scored 48. This score was such an improvement that he was required to take the test again to prove he didn't cheat. He is now a marine.
GED
I'm an expert at helping students do well on standardized tests including GED.
SAT - Math
Proficiency: Expert, and one of my top Subjects!
I have a no-nonsense approach to SAT. It's more like a game than anything else, and I teach the student how to win. The material is limited by various constraints, and it is important to concentrate on the kinds of questions that are used. It is also mainly a multiple-choice test, which introduces many ways to get the answers. i scored 796 on the math SAT, mainly because I knew how to take the test, and I teach students all the tricks.
SAT - Verbal
I tutor all sections of the SAT test.
