Search
Heidi J.'s Photo

Expert English & Writing Tutor: Essay Structure, Close Reading, AP 5s
Heidi J.

5.0 (2,116 ratings)

8,924 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee
Hourly Rate: $90
Contact Heidi
Response time: 1 hour

About Heidi

Bio

I help students excel in English, with a focus on writing and essay preparation for high-stakes exams and college admissions. For the past 20 years, my students have regularly earned 5s on AP English Language and AP English Literature exams, raised their SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing scores by 100+ points to 770+ and beyond (including perfect scores), and gained admission to Ivy League and other highly selective universities such as Yale, Duke, Columbia, and the University of...

I help students excel in English, with a focus on writing and essay preparation for high-stakes exams and college admissions. For the past 20 years, my students have regularly earned 5s on AP English Language and AP English Literature exams, raised their SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing scores by 100+ points to 770+ and beyond (including perfect scores), and gained admission to Ivy League and other highly selective universities such as Yale, Duke, Columbia, and the University of Chicago.

As a Phi Beta Kappa graduate with training in Child Development at UCLA, I teach clear, step-by-step strategies for literary analysis and essay structure, including how to recognize and interpret rhetorical and literary elements, write an argumentative thesis, and support it with text-based evidence.

I also work extensively with students on personal narratives and application essays, helping them learn to shape their meaningful experiences into clear, compelling personal statements that are creative and authentic. Through this process, my students have gone on to highly competitive universities and prestigious pre-college enrichment programs at Harvard and Yale. I tailor my lessons to each student: some work with me on specific assignments or exams, while others continue working with me from middle school through college.

Reading and writing instruction is ultimately about learning how to think independently: to evaluate ideas, to make sense of complex texts, to communicate clearly. I help students understand why grappling with the deeper questions that writing and literature raise makes their work relevant, meaningful, rewarding, and even fun. Seeing students thrive is what makes my job the best job in the world!

Read more

Education

Indiana University
Music and Theatre
Indiana University
Graduate Coursework
University of California Los Angeles
Graduate Coursework
  • Licensed teacher

Policies

Schedule

Loading...

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Approved Subjects

English

English

With more than 20 years of teaching experience, I tutor English, reading, and writing, with a strong emphasis on the upper grades, from middle school through college. Specializing in techniques and strategies for close reading, essay and sentence structure, and literary analysis, I guide my students step by step to help them understand how to write a strong thesis and support it with textual evidence. My students regularly earn 5s on both the AP English Language and the AP English Literature exams, while also increasing their confidence, reasoning, and comprehension. Above all, I help students not only raise their grades and scores, but also understand why this work is meaningful, relevant, and even fun!
Grammar

Grammar

I help students understand grammar as a tool for making meaning: developing deep reading and clear, compelling writing. Through hands-on activities, such as sentence-composing, I teach students how sentences work from the inside out, guiding them to see grammar's power and purpose. When students understand the elements of grammar as tools rather than just rules, their reading, writing, analysis, and comprehension soar!
Homeschool

Homeschool

A homeschool teacher for 17 years, I specialize in hands-on, interactive, experiential, project-based learning. I currently teach academic and enrichment courses in writing, literature, history, theatre, music, and dance for homeschooled students, ages K-12, in Los Angeles, including Literature, Creative Writing and Theatre “Labs” on compelling, relevant, and historically-rich topics. I have a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction from Indiana University where I graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was then admitted to the Yale University School of Drama. I’m fully certified in music and movement by the American Orff Schulwerk Association and trained in Child Development at UCLA, the University of Massachusetts, and the University of Colorado. I am proud to have tutored students who have achieved high scores on the SAT, ACT, PSAT, including scores of 5 on the AP English Literature exam and an AP Scholar with Distinction Award. Above all, I homeschooled my own daughter from pre-school all the way to Columbia University!
Literature

Literature

Analyzing literature can be challenging. For more than twenty years, I’ve helped students learn to comprehend and interpret the underlying themes and meaning of the greatest works ever written. I have developed step-by-step processes that give students the tools they need to make sense of complex texts, to read closely, to understand not just what an author has written, but how and why. These tools provide students with clear, accessible strategies that enable them to write literary analysis with depth and critical thinking. Literature matters because it raises profound questions about eternal themes and issues, ultimately providing deep insight into literature's unique ability to help us understand what it means to be human.
Phonics

Phonics

I help students understand how sounds and patterns work together, guiding them to discover and explore the magic of creatively engaging with words. Students experience the joy of reading fluently as they learn actively, building comprehension skills that go beyond decoding to develop the skills of making meaning.
Piano

Piano

With a music degree from the prestigious Indiana University School of Music, I have been a pianist since the age of 5. I have also performed with symphony orchestras at the Kennedy Center and around the country and have designed over a dozen symphonic music education programs for children in grades K – 8. I am a fully certified Orff-Schulwerk instructor with professional development specialties in jazz for children and world music. I specialize in piano instruction for the elementary ages, emphasizing creative, interactive, and imaginative approaches for young students. I currently run the Orff Schulwerk program for the elementary grades at Creative Learning Place in Los Angeles. I love working with young music students to find joy, creativity, imagination, and play in making music on the piano!
Reading

Reading

I have been teaching reading for more than twenty years. Trained in child development at UCLA, I use research-based techniques and strategies to help students understand what they read, including why it is relevant in their own lives. Together, we explore the contexts that make literature matter, inspiring insightful discussion and stronger comprehension. I also develop students' understanding at the sentence level, which improves both their reading and their writing by uncovering and modeling how high-quality sentences are written. My background in professional theatre enables me to bring texts to life, helping students connect emotionally and intellectually to works of all kinds!
Theater

Theater

A professional actor and musical theatre performer, I've been a member of the professional actor’s unions, Actors Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, for over 35 years. I’ve been cast in leading roles in Broadway, Off-Broadway and internationally touring productions including the international company of Cats. You might have seen me selling coffee or fast food on TV commercials, tending the sick and scandalized on television soaps, or being one of the Everybody (who) Loves Raymond on sitcoms. Touring the country as a stand-up comic, I’ve appeared at all major comedy clubs in New York and Los Angeles, opened for Melissa Manchester in Las Vegas, and shared the stage with Dave Chappelle, Wanda Sykes, Patton Oswalt and many more. I’m very proud to be the creator, host, and executive producer of Stand Up Against Domestic Violence, a comedy fundraiser featuring comics like Sarah Silverman and Margaret Cho, which has two double CD sets released internationally and currently available on all major audio outlets. For the past 12 years, I’ve loved every moment of teaching theatre to young people as the creator and director of The College-Bound Literature and Theatre Lab in Los Angeles, a theatre program for high school and middle school students which explores literature creatively through the performing arts, as well as Theatre Lab Junior for grades 3 - 6, which brings exciting moments in history to life through the theatre. I’ve studied major acting techniques including the Meisner Technique, Stanislavski, Uta Hagen, and improv with Second City and the Groundlings. With extensive experience working with young actors, I focus on developing meaningful subtexts, making strong choices, and living truthfully under imaginary circumstances. My specialty is making difficult material accessible, meaningful, and relevant for young people.
Voice (Music)

Voice (Music)

With a music degree from the prestigious Indiana University School of Music, I am a professional singer with appearances on and off-Broadway, on tour nationally, and in major performing arts venues around the country. I studied voice with many of the world’s finest voice teachers in New York City including the vocal coaches of Bernadette Peters, Betty Buckley, Patti Lupone, Cyndi Lauper, and Steven Tyler. I have sung leading roles in numerous professional musical theatre productions, both high belt and legit styles. I have also performed with symphony orchestras at the Kennedy Center and around the country and have designed over a dozen symphonic music education programs for children in grades K – 8. I am a fully certified Orff-Schulwerk instructor with professional development specialties in jazz for children and world music. I currently run the Orff Schulwerk program for the elementary grades at Creative Learning Place in Los Angeles and have run The College-Bound Literature and Theatre Lab, a musical theatre lab program for high school students, for 15 years. With the diversity of my training, I am excited to nurture and inspire my students to become the most expressive and passionate singers and musicians they can be!
Writing

Writing

For more than twenty years, I’ve helped students express ideas powerfully on the page. I guide students step by step, teaching them the structure of academic, creative, and personal essays. In Los Angeles, I created and led the ongoing Multi-Genre Writing Workshop for middle and high school students at the Los Angeles Public Library and taught The Art of the Essay at Creative Learning Place. Above all, I give students clear, accessible strategies that build skills and confidence, helping them become authentic, capable, and joyful writers!

Examples of Expertise

Heidi has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 3 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

See all of Heidi ’s answers ›
Heidi J.'s Photo

Questions? Contact Heidi before you book.

Still have questions?

Contact Heidi
Response time: 1 hour

Ratings and Reviews

Rating

5.0 (2,116 ratings)
5 star
(2,116)
4 star
(0)
3 star
(0)
2 star
(0)
1 star
(0)

Reviews

Big improvement

My son’s English grade has gone up to an A. His teacher mentioned that he is more confident in class, as well. Heidi knows how to teach. She comes prepared with lessons that deals with the fundamentals of writing. She doesn’t just ask my son what he needs help on since he doesn’t really know. She teaches different aspects of writing and goes over writing projects with him. I am so glad we were able to find her.

Carolyn, 153 lessons with Heidi

Patient, Empathetic, Delightful Teacher

We hired Heidi to be the primary English teachers for our two home schooled boys 12 and 14. Heidi is a devoted teacher who brings a wide breadth of literature and history knowledge to the table. She is a patient, empathetic, and delightful teacher. Most importantly, her love of literature and history can shine through to infect even teenage kids (you know how they can be!). Unfortunately due to scheduling conflicts, we cannot continue our lessons with Heidi longer term. But if you ever an opportunity to work with Heidi, count your blessings and grab her!

Allen, 19 lessons with Heidi

WOW!

Heidi recently helped our 9th grader with an essay. While Heidi could only spend 45 minutes with our daughter due to time limitations on our end, she effectively and EFFICIENTLY accomplished more than others could do in twice that time. I know this because we have used other writing tutors. Additionally, Heidi spent a considerable amount of time after the session providing our daughter with helpful resources. Heidi gets an A+++ in our book!

Bonnie and Dan, 8 lessons with Heidi
Tutor responded:

Thank you so much for your gracious feedback. It was wonderful working with your daughter on her essay, unpacking the novel’s symbolism together and shaping a strong, insightful thesis and analysis. I truly appreciate your kind words — hearing from parents about my work’s impact is one of the joys of what I do!

Her teaching has been immensely helpful. She makes writing fun.

She’s the best writing coach we know. She teaches while making writing fun. Very much helped our kid advance as a writer.

Steve, 159 lessons with Heidi
Tutor responded:

Thank you so much for these kind words. It’s such a joy to work together and to watch her creativity and passion for writing shine. Seeing her wonderful, unique voice come alive on the page is one of those reminders of why I have the best job in the world!

Best teacher!

Heidi is patient and kind. She always has a smile on her face and her joy is contagious. I’m a beginner and as a virtual gift to my grandma decided to do a Christmas song, which was way harder than I thought... lol I didn’t believe I could do it but with Heidi’s help I actually sound good. She’s such a great human being!

Talita, 147 lessons with Heidi

Happy to find a knowledgeable and patient tutor

Heidi has been a patient and knowledgeable tutor. She connects really well with her students. We are so glad to have found her for tutoring our daughter.. Wish we started sooner with her

Liju, 26 lessons with Heidi

Amazing , Incredible , intelligent, Helpful Perfect

She is so responsive, flexible and intelligent and amazing teacher. My son's confidence and reading comprehension has improved. She helps with anything you ask. I am hoping to also use her for my younger son as he gets older. Cannot say enough good things about her.

Rad, 175 lessons with Heidi

Knowledgeable and patient

Heidi has tutored my son English for 4 sessions. She is very patient and knowledgeable. My son used to lack of motivation for English tutoring, but after working Heidi, he always asks me when is the next tutoring session with Heidi. Heidi makes learning easy and connectible to him, and she would patiently try different ways to help him understand a concept. I'm grateful to have Heidi as my son's English tutor and will continue to use her as my son's tutor.

Joshua, 6 lessons with Heidi

Great learning experience

Not only are the lessons taught professionally, but also engaging. We as parents also receive regular feedback, reminders and updates, which are vital to the success of the piano journey. Thank you so much Heidi!

Sherry, 206 lessons with Heidi

Very effective teaching

Heidi is a very effective teacher. She gives well structured lessons targeting at specific goals each time. She is also quite easy to communicate with, really nice with kids yet can squeeze the thoughts out of them. She helped my daughter with timed writing and we were seeing good progress with only a couple of lessons.

Xun, 13 lessons with Heidi
Hourly Rate: $90
Response time: 1 hour
Contact Heidi