Expert in learning design, eager to help with your educational goals

I am a passionate educator, wanting to help all my students get the most value they can from the educational experiences they are investing their time, money and effort into.

My credentials: I completed my MBA in 1995, with a strong emphasis on marketing. I completed my doctorate in education (EdD) in 2009, with a focus on applied psychology, learning design and assessments. I've been teaching and working on education-related projects since the mid-90s, including a great deal of work in learning assessment and curriculum design. I would happy to share my full Curricula Vitae with you if you'd like to know more about what I've done.

As a lifelong learner myself, I have developed expertise not just in a broad range of disciplines but also in methods for making learning easier, faster and more personally relevant. In my tutoring methods, I focus on problem solving in productive engaging ways, even when the work is boring or overwhelming. My long term emphasis is on helping students find their own motivations and develop the habits for being more self-directed and successful in their learning endeavors.

Let me know what your availability is like for a 15-minute phone call and I can answer all your questions.

Melissa's Subjects

Math:	ACT Math, algebra 1, geometry, logic, prealgebra, SAT math, statistics
Science:	philosophy, psychology, sociology
English:	ACT English, ACT Reading, English, ESL/ESOL, grammar, literature, proofreading, public speaking, reading, SAT reading, SAT writing, TOEFL, vocabulary, writing
Test Preparation:	ACT English, ACT Math, ACT Reading, career development, CBEST, college counseling, GED, GMAT, GRE, PSAT, SAT math, SAT reading, SAT writing, TOEFL
Computer:	desktop publishing, general computer, HTML, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word
Language:	ESL/ESOL, TOEFL
History:	social studies
Special Needs:	ADD/ADHD
Elementary Education:	grammar, reading, spelling, study skills, vocabulary
Business:	business, career development, economics, finance, GMAT, GRE, marketing, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, public speaking
Sports/Recreation:	poker
Corporate Training:	business, career development, college counseling, economics, ESL/ESOL, finance, general computer, GMAT, grammar, HTML, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, proofreading, public speaking, statistics
Homeschool:	algebra 1, economics, English, ESL/ESOL, geometry, prealgebra, reading, SAT math, SAT reading, statistics, study skills, writing

Microsoft Excel

I worked at Microsoft in the 1980s and have grown up using their software. Excel is one of my favorites, and I use it as a tool to help with almost all of my projects. I have taught classes on MS Office and Excel, and would be happy to work one-on-one with anyone who wants to learn it faster.

English

I have been writing academically and professionally for more than 20 years, and know how hard it can be. Through my years, I've learned and developed a number of techniques for getting through the writing process faster, with more confidence and less frustration. I am compassionate about the emotional struggles that writing assignments often present. I would be happy to help you work through those blocks as quickly as possible, so you can get on to all the other things you could be doing!

ESL/ESOL

Why would you want to work with me?
First, I have the training and experience you are looking for. In addition to my doctorate in education and MBA, I have also have a certificate for teaching ESL. Since then I have worked for several years teaching international several years of experience teaching ESL international students "Introduction to Business" at Seattle Community College. But most importantly, I have passion and skills for helping you learn quickly and get the most value you can... Read More

GMAT

It's been a few years since I took the GMAT and then completed an MBA at Seattle University, but I've learned so much about how these types of tests work since then! My work over the past decade has focused heavily on assessment design and use, and I love helping others use what I know.

In just a couple of sessions, I can help you determine exactly what you want to focus on in your test preparation, and how to practice and review in order to improve your scores. I can also give you... Read More

Study Skills

In the educational work I've been doing for the past 3 years, I've been very focused on helping students develop habits to maximize the value they get from their learning experiences. Underlying this are a multitude of study skill methods and techniques that I help students experiment with until they find the blend that works best for their strengths and needs. One example is metacognitive notetaking, a research-based adaptation of the Cornell method. By using a left column on regular note taking... Read More

Poker

While I first learned to play poker in the 1980s, I have been actively learning and improving my skills in playing Texas Hold'Em, online and in cash games and tournaments. I have made it to the final table in 4 of the last 6 tournaments I've entered. While I was learning basic strategies, I referenced a wikipedia article on starting hands. The graphic that had been up for the Sklansky hand groups was not as memorizable as I wanted it to be, so I redesigned it in Excel and updated the wikipedia... Read More

Business

I have an MBA and experience teaching college level business courses for mainstream students and international ESL students. I have also worked in the business sector for Microsoft and a number of other companies. In helping students understand and develop their business-related skills, I also help them see themselves in the business contexts they are most drawn toward, and develop their plans for how to move toward their goals..

Public Speaking

I have been teaching and speaking publicly for more than 15 years. In graduate school, I learned fantastic techniques for capturing the audience's attention, making presentations memorable and moving people to take action. Over the past three years, I've presented at more than a dozen professional conferences, getting rave reviews each time. I would be delighted to help anyone working to improve the quality of their presentations, and am available on short notice.

Career Development

In all my teaching, I work to help my students look at the lives they want to lead, and how to move in those directions. I have been trained in multiple career planning methods, including the Dependable Strengths Articulation Process. I can also leverage my extensive background in applied psychology to help students develop the skills and habits they need to support their goals.

College Counseling

For the past three years I have been presenting faculty development workshops aimed at helping faculty be better able to support their students in becoming self-directed learners. When I counsel college students, I help them explore their long term goals and the options they have for getting there, leveraging the resources of the schools and other contexts they have already committed to. With so many years of experience in higher education, as student, administrator and faculty member, I can bring... Read More

ADD/ADHD

I have a doctorate in education with a heavy emphasis on psychology and learning design. I also have high-function non-hyperactive Attention Deficit Disorder. I have studied what that means and how to work with it for the last 5 years. I have a number of techniques students can experiment with that can improve their abilities to get more out of school and better manage their behaviors so they can not just cope but thrive.

CBEST

I took the CBEST in December of 2011 when I moved to San Diego. my total score was 199, with a 73 for Reading, a 63 in Writing and a 63 in Math. It would be a pleasure to help someone else prepare for this test.

Desktop Publishing

With extensive experience in Microsoft Word, Excel & Publisher, I have worked on a number of desktop publishing projects. I can help guide any student through the processes needed from beginning to end, with results they could be proud of having produced, and better skills for future projects.

Marketing

During my MBA studies, I focused heavily on marketing and consumer psychology. I have emphasized marketing skills within the business classes I have taught. I also have an extensive history in social change marketing, recruiting and fundraising, supported by a variety of marketing perspectives, techniques and models.

Microsoft Windows

I had the great "good fortune" of working at Microsoft in the 1980s and have grown up with the different iterations of Windows. I have also taught introductory computing classes in colleges and community centers. As a tutor, I can help almost anyone learn more tricks for navigating and using Windows functionality more efficiently than they currently do. I can also help them learn how to find answers to the questions they may have when Windows does something unexpected, or they want to try something... Read More

Microsoft Publisher

With my background at Microsoft, I was one of the first users of MS Publisher and continue to use it today. My primary outputs have included newsletters, business cards, greeting cards, calendars and signage. I am very familiar with Publisher's functionality and can easily help students learn how to navigate through the different menus and steps for creating outputs they can be proud of.

Read all subject qualifications »

Education

Undergrad, City University/WA Graduate, MBA, Seattle University Graduate, EdD, Seattle University

Hourly Fee

Standard Hourly Fee: $50.00

With Prepaid Discount: $42.50 - $47.50

Save up to 15%

Cancellation: 3 hours notice required

You don't pay until after your tutoring and there are no hidden fees or charges. The price you see here is the price you pay.

Your first hour with any tutor is always 100% refundable. You must be completely satisfied or we will gladly issue you an instant refund.

Travel Policy

Melissa will travel within 40 miles of San Diego, CA 92108.

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$200 - $399	$190 - $379	5%
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Melissa G.