Specialist in preparing students to succeed on NYS tests

I am a retired school teacher and administrator whose career focused on working with young people from grade 7 through graduate school. I worked with teachers to help them improve their teaching, and with the NYS Education Department to design some of their tests. I know that I can help students achieve a good score on a NYS standardized test while at the same time increasing their enjoyment of learning, ability to perform well generally in school, and feel competent and confident with respect to the basic school(and life) requirements of mathematics and reading/writing.

I have taught in New York City's SEEK program helping under-prepared high school students manage the college experience, as well as teaching both social studies and mathematics in a Brooklyn High School. I directed the dropout prevention program Liberty Partnership in St. Lawrence County, and trained tutors to engage the whole students, not just rote memorization of what might be on a particular test. For eleven years my work included training teachers, working with test design, providing support for and scoring the many different NY State tests.

I believe in treating young people with respect, using my knowledge as a support for their efforts to figure out mathematical and language meaning at their appropriate level.

Prudence's Subjects

Math:	ACT Math, prealgebra
English:	ACT English, ACT Reading, English, grammar, literature, reading, SAT reading, SAT writing, vocabulary, writing
Test Preparation:	ACT English, ACT Math, ACT Reading, ASVAB, GED, SAT reading, SAT writing
History:	European history, social studies, world history
Special Needs:	ADD/ADHD, phonics, special needs
Elementary Education:	elementary math, grammar, phonics, reading, vocabulary
Corporate Training:	grammar
Homeschool:	English, prealgebra, reading, SAT reading, writing

Prealgebra

Prealgebra is primarily about using the properties of arithmetic operations to generate equivalent expressions and solving real-life and mathematical problems using both numerical and algebraic (e.g. X + 4 = 15, find the value of X) equations. Once the student has mastered arithmetic operations, fractions and decimals, mastery of the early steps of algebra (prealgebra) is a matter of deepening understanding of these relationships.

Reading

"Reading" instruction covers many different areas. Younger children (6-10 years) are likely to need particular help with decoding, phonics, phonemic awareness, and word attack skills. An older child (through adolescence) without a learning disability, may require a focus on word analysis, and using context clues. I taught high school math and social studies, always working with the classes of students presenting serious reading difficulties. I have collaborated with special education teachers,... Read More

Writing

Writing is about communicating ideas clearly, in an organized way, as well as demonstrating command of the language (grammar, usage and spelling). This is true whether the writer is a 9-year old preparing for the New York State 4th grade test, or a graduate student writing a research paper. While narrative is different from argument, for example, or descriptive writing, the basic requirements for success are the same.

English

The category "English" tutoring covers many areas: conversational English for the non-English speaker, reading age-appropriate narrative and technical material, being able to explain/comprehend what has been read, writing clearly and coherently, as well as learning the basics of English grammar, spelling and usage.

GED

The GED is a measure of equivalency to a basic high school education. That is why the test covers reading, writing, mathematics (through elementary algebra), basic science and history/geography.

SAT Reading

SAT reading tests are about comprehension of short and long passages that are rarely about anything of great interest to a teen. However, the purpose of asking multiple choice questions about "the best title", "which of the following is NOT talked about in this passage", or "what does the author want to convey through this passage" is to determine the student's general level of reading and vocabulary comprehension. The ability to understand and respond to unfamiliar written material is important... Read More

SAT Writing

As you know, many websites exist with sample SAT tests, and even sample essay responses with comments. While these will be very useful to anyone preparing for the SAT writing exam, it does not replace the one-to-one interaction that takes place with a personal tutor. HS students preparing to take the SAT writing exam will find the "editing" aspect of the multiple choice section particularly difficult. Most have had little or no experience with revision, either for grammatical or effective communication... Read More

ASVAB

ASVAB is very much like the basic HS GED test except that it includes certain technical skills that are specific to the needs of the military. For many applicants, a big hurdle is exactly the beginning algebra type of problem which caused so much trouble for them in HS.

ACT Reading

In many ways the SAT and ACT reading tests are very similar. The differences noted by other tutors include the ACT emphasis on speed, while also focusing on more straightforward (less abstract and conceptual) passages for response. The SAT emphasizes vocabulary and interpretation, while the ACT focuses more on "what happened", rather than "why?" There are a variety of ways to help a student succeed on the ACT reading comprehension which are different from those used for success on the SAT reading... Read More

Elementary Math

There are two components of elementary math which pose difficulties for many children, once they have mastered the basics of arithmetic/counting and grouping. The first of these is achieving automaticity with addition/subtraction and multiplication/division. Without automaticity with respect to "math facts", every further task becomes unbearably complicated. The second component of elementary math that poses difficulty is the basis of algebra and all advanced mathematics, that is, fractions and... Read More

Special Needs

As a high school subject area teacher (math and social studies) I worked very closely with the Special Education Department to help identify students whose poor reading skills were a function of disabilities and those who simply had not had sufficient opportunity to learn. As a BOCES supervisor I worked closely with both special education supervisors and classroom teachers modifying teacher training sessions to help teachers adapt material to their special needs students. I do not have special... Read More

ADD/ADHD

I have helped to train special education teachers working with children suffering from ADD/ADHD and am confident that I will be able to help your child.

Social Studies

I taught HS social studies in New York City in the 1980s and have been certified for Day High School Social Studies since 1976. As BOCES Supervisor for Professional Development for 18 school districts, I have worked on NYS social studies assessments, presented workshops on teaching social studies to NYS standards, and trained teachers to present similar workshops.

Read all subject qualifications »

Education

Undergrad, University of Chicago Graduate, Masters, University of Chicago Graduate, EdD, Rutgers University

Hourly Fee

Standard Hourly Fee: $30.00

With Prepaid Discount: $25.50 - $28.50

Save up to 15%

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

Prudence will travel within 10 miles of Beacon, NY 12508.

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Credit	For Only	You Save
$200 - $399	$190 - $379	5%
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Prudence P.